A lie is a lie, however you dress it up

I know it's me who should be changing the record now… but I feel it has to be said again. Do not believe the PP's or the Spain Herald's lies when it comes to any issue whatsoever connected with the devolution of power to the nations or regions of Spain.

The PP will always try to use such issues as a threat to voters: those who support devolution are attempting to destroy (or 'Balkanise') Spain.

The Spain Herald willfully distorts and changes facts (in English, we call this lying). Case in point:

The sectarian disdain deputy Prime Minister De la Vega recently expressed for the most widely supported political initiative in Spain’s democratic history is absolutely unsurprising.

Now, what is the 'most widely supported political initiative in Spain’s democratic history'? The Spain Herald is referring to Mariano Rajoy's little black book, which contains the signatures of four million adults, and zero monkeys. Unfortunately, it is a lie to call this the 'most widely supported political initiative in Spain’s democratic history'.

In 2003, 90% of Spaniards opposed the invasion of Iraq by Spanish troops. That's the truth. Excluding children, this makes for approximately twenty four million people. Even if we removed the Socialist voters from this group, there would be more than four million Spaniards opposed to the war. We're talking more than four million PP supporters here. It is therefore clear that if you wish to try and get away with such a grand and sweeping statement as the 'most widely supported political initiative in Spain’s democratic history', you'd better make sure that it's water-tight.

In fact, based on the results of the last election, it is clear that more than fourteen million people voted against the PP government. Given that one of the Spain Herald's favourite claims is that the Socialists led a concerted, dishonest and 'illegal' campaign against the PP, they negate their own false claim.

Spain Herald, PP: logic will always defeat you, even when you start to believe your own lies. The beauty of logic is that it transcends rhetoric, sophism and bullshit.

April 29, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics, Spain | Leave a Comment 

The monkeys already vote

orangutan1.gifrajoy2.gifThe Spain Herald are up in arms over the Socialist government's plans to give more rights to simians, effectively providing apes with the same legal protection afforded to human beings. The PP seem utterly perplexed by the fact that the Socialists aren't doing the work of a proper government (i.e. building huge, useless national infratructure projects which directly benefit their own ministers, initiating flag-saluting ceremonies, illegally invading middle-eastern countries and so on). But then, the PP is the same party which has no values… so they can become very confused when anyone else appears to.

For example: the PP have stated over and over again that they were worried that the new Catalan statute would go against Spain's constitution. The integrity and protection of the constitution was always their main concern, not childish, partisan politicking. But now Rajoy wants to hold a national refferrendum on whether the Estaut is acceptable or not. Oh, Mariano! But that goes against the Spanish constitution! Nevermind, says the orang-utan. It's the will of the people of Spain. But what about when your buddy Aznar invaded Iraq? Up to 90% of the Spanish population were opposed in some way to this war, but your party didn't give a toss.

So what do you really believe in, PP? The constitution? You've already proven that you don't. Public opinion? You couldn't care less, until you can find some people to back one of your foolish crusades. The rule of law? That's why you lied about the Madrid bombings after they happened, ignored warnings before they happened, and are now trying to pervert the course of justice by claiming that the judiciary and police are involved in some sort of bizarre conspiracy. The Spanish people? That's why you took an active part in misleading the Spanish people into an illegal and deadly war.
The monkeys have already got the vote in Spain. Luckily they lost the last election, and at this rate, they'll lose the next one too.

April 27, 2006 | Filed Under Politics, Spain | 1 Comment 

Have it! Barça beat Milan!

The fireworks tell the story… Barça in the final of the Champions' League. There were some unusual decisions made, and Milan played pretty well. But they lost!

The Catalan commentary on la Primera pissed me of because from about minute 20, they were harping on about Barça getting to Paris. I understand, and don't have a problem with, the partisan attitude of the Catalan commentators but in England we have a thing called 'tempting fate'. Clearly, Catalonia suffers no such problem.

Anyway, força Barça!

April 26, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Spain | Leave a Comment 

Best blog ever!

I love this blog. It's a bit like Manual Estimulo, but from America. Quote:

Europe is a good example of how America could look like if the leftwing liberals have their way. The utter and complete lack of morals and the total destruction of family values are shockingly visible in todays Europe.

For me, the most amusing thing about shelleytherepublican.com is how many people are taking it seriously. It's amazing how normally witty people just see red when they read that Shelley feels that Linux is a commie plot against America. But think about it: it's just a joke. Or 'troll', if you like.

April 26, 2006 | Filed Under Internet computer, Politics | Leave a Comment 

Charles Clarke to step down?

According to an anonymous source, Charles Clarke will be out of the Home Office by the end of the week, to be replaced by Trade Secretary Alan Johnson. This is the same Alan Johnson who has been rumoured to be a candidate in the future battle for leadership of the party when Blair finally sods off.

You heard it here third!

April 26, 2006 | Filed Under UK | Leave a Comment 

Reial Madrid

I've just read an interesting article in Sapiens, the molt Catalanista history and current affairs magazine, about how the football club Real Madrid was in fact founded by two Catalan brothers. Carles and Joan Padrós i Rubió were born in Barcelona, but moved to Madrid to pursue their business interests. On the 18th of April 1902, the two brothers put the finishing touches on the statutes of a new sports association: the 'Madrid Foot Ball Club'.

For those who are unaware of the animosity between Madrid supporters and Catalans over the last sixty or so years, Real Madrid is deeply unpopular here in Catalonia. Seen as an emblem of everything that is bad about Spain, Madrid fans (or merengues as they are disrespectively termed) are thin on the ground in this most avowedly un-Spanish corner of the country. Real Madrid was the favourite team of fascist dictator, Francisco Franco, and – sometimes in openly unsportsmanly ways – had the best of domestic and foreign players and league success under the dictatorship.

For these reasons, the fact that Real Madrid was actually created and managed by two Catalan brothers will come as a shock. It certainly seemed to shock many Real Madrid officials, both during and after the years of the Genaralissimo's patronage. On the death of Carles Padrós i Rubió in 1950, no mintue's silence was held at the club's ground. No one connected with the modern club attended its founder's funeral. Similarly, during the club's centenary celebrations five or six years ago, the families of Carles and Joan weren't contacted to play any part – or even watch – the club's triumphal spectaculars.

The fact that Real Madrid's fans, a small number of whom are openly neo-Nazi and anti-Catalan, are left in the dark about their beloved club's origins is an interesting reminder of how politics and football have been intertwined in Spain's modern history. There's no reason that Madrid supporters should choose to like Catalans any more simply because their club was founded by two. But perhaps it would give them food for thought enough to realise that they owe a lot to their polako cousins.

Interestingly, the Sapiens article ends with another snippet of information. Atletico Madrid, arguably the bearers of a far greater hatred of Catalonia and FC Barcelona, was founded by Basques. But that's another can of worms, best saved for another day.

April 23, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics, Spain | 3 Comments 

Prince Harry posts on B3TA!

http://b3ta.com/users/profile.php?id=44057

April 22, 2006 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment 

My new favourite mentalists!

This blog called something like factualmente no correcto is a sort of joke about how far you can take right-wing mentalism. If you can't understand Spanish, it doesn't really matter because pretty much everything on there is rubbish (save the factualmente no correcte bit). Their second to last post was a pathetic attack on your trusty correspondent's recent scuffle with the thugs over that dickhead Jorge Valín. The author entitled it "Stupidity has neither languages nor continents", and then proceeds to prove his point. I must say, if everyone on the Spanish right is quite as foolishly mendacious and hypocritical as the ones I've had the misfortune to read, they truly are in a bad state. I noticed that none of them commented on my post entitled "Save the PP from themselves" where I urged my commie comrades to help the PP drag itself out of a self-dug pit.

Perhaps they spotted that I was on to something?

April 20, 2006 | Filed Under Language, Politics, Spain | Leave a Comment 

Communist revolution underway in Nepal

Nepal, the Himalayan state sandwiched between India and China, is undergoing the world's first socialist revolution in years. Just as people all around the world are turning their backs on autocratic, monetarist and right-wing governments, the oppressed workers of Nepal are rising against a despotic and hated king.

Over the last ten years, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), or CPN(M), and many of Nepal's citizens have been struggling to create a democratic socialist republic and bring an end to a corrupt monarchical system which has been. propped up by the USA, UK and EU.

As the Nepalese government's fear has increased, they have used more and more desperate measures to try to repress the popular movement against them. Having overthrown parliament, King Gyanendra now rules as a military dictator. All 'dissent' against the king is deemed a criminal offence. newpapers accused of supporting the communists have been closed down and hundreds – possibly thousands – of people have been 'disappeared' for interrogation… never to return home.

The CPN(M) has already made real changes to improve the lives of workers in the zones it controls. Though they are by no means perfect, they are streets ahead of the mob who have controlled this poor country for so long.

A much fuller (and better written) account of the Revolution is available at this blog, and this Wikipedia page.

April 20, 2006 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment 

Roving Bush

It can't have escaped anyone who spends all their time watching the news or browsing the internet that Ducados have changed their packaging. By including more white on their packet, they might be trying to trick people into thinking that their cigarettes are in some way a 'light' option. Even I, on buying a pack today, thought I had been tricked into some kind of commie plot to get me to smoke blonde tobacco. Thankfully, this was not the case.

Meanwhile, George Bush's new chief of staff has sacked the president's press secretary and Karl Rove! Well, maybe not Karl Rove, as he seems to have been promoted in some way. There are two or three members of Bush's inner circle who the public would like to be sacked: Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and Dick Cheney. Well, apart from Don (who's obviously on the way out), the public are just going to have to wait until these hated men either die or the Republicans are voted out of office.

To those right-wingers out there who fancy a go, let me warn you: I have recently started going to a gym. I am now ready to deal with your surprise attacks. Bring it on!

April 19, 2006 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment 

Defcon 3

Much like the USA being attacked by aliens terrorists on September 11th, thebadrash.com has come under unprecedented, totally moronic assault. For this reason, my alert level has been raised to RED (which means I have to moderate all comments).

What happened?
In brief, what happened was that I posted that Jorge Valí­n, an occasional contributor to the Libertad Digital/Spain Herald right-wing online magazines, was stupid because he had claimed that the aim of all civil servants is to do nothing. I noted that not only was this wrong, but it was also insulting to many civil servants whose main aim is not 'to do nothing', but to serve their country and feed their children. My irrational response so incensed some of Valí­n's fans that they felt they had ony one path open to them: total annihilation.

Stupidity
As you may have noticed if you visited the post (which was tagged as a 'rant', something which clearly passed over the heads of my Spanish correspondents), the onslaught was brief but terrible. Terribly stupid, that is. Various gentlemen suggested that I didn't know anything about ETA, the Basque separatist group. The argument here was that because I referred to them as 'separatists', I didn't believe they were 'terrorists'. Now even with my very basic schooling in predicate and syllogistic logic, I can tell that my commenters have made a grave error here. Are ETA a group of separatists? The answer is: yes. Therefore, is it not logically correct to refer to ETA as a spearatist group? You may consider it disingenuous not to use the 'terrorist' word when referring to ETA, but for me, the term has become hackneyed.
Other commenters took the time to suggest that being told that one's job was worthless (or that one's aim in life was 'to do nothing') wouldn't be insulting to someone. Well, it would be insulting to me and to all the other workers I've ever met. This, then, is a clear ideological issue. Clearly, those who disagree with me feel that their lives have no value. I wasn't brought up to think like that. I was brought up to take pride in my work, to value my fortune and to strive for the improvement of not only my lot, but that of those around me. If this makes me unusual, then I'm glad to be unusual. But I have the moral authority here, not you.

Proliferation
After becoming sick of the childish slide into insult and sophism, I closed comments on the original post. "Enough is enough", I thought, and I edited my final comment to cite my guidelines on editing and removing comments. But it wasn't enough for some. Instead, the comments started to flow on other posts… to the point where I had to institute moderation on all comments. The purpose of this tool is to ensure that no one posts any comments which I deem to be off-topic or unduly irritating. Check my guidelines if you find this difficult to understand.

For this reason, you may have tried to post a comment to my site which failed to appear. If this is the case, please consider whether your comment was relevant to the post it was added to. it's simple: stay on-topic and this will never have to happen again.

Salutation
Well, thanks for the traffic and the attention. I guess that unfortunately, I'll have to stay on red alert for some time now. I'm beginning to empathise with poor President Bush. It must be a nightmare hanging out with craven, soulless, right-wing ideologues when all you want to do is have a beer and a bit of blow.
Adéu.

April 19, 2006 | Filed Under 'Terror', Site news | Leave a Comment 

Movies, books and the rise of the mentalists

This evening, I've decided to return to the classic thebadrash.com binary review system, which I never patented… but which has nevertheless not yet been stolen from me. Inspired by a combination of Guirilandia's excellent review of V For Vendetta (n.b. had the psychoactive drugs; fell asleep), and an onslaught of foolish and irritating comments from country bumpkins with nought better to do but defend a Nick Cave look-alike with dubious political ideas, here's a roundup of recently enjoyed and not enjoyed material.

Books

Ghosts of Spain by Giles Tremlett
History of modern Spain dealt with in a thematic style. Good chapters included the corruption in Marbella section and (to a degree) the Catalonia bit. I skipped over the Basque question because I'm bored with it. Just: 1/1

Gary Benchley, Rock Star by Paul Ford
The charming, if slightly irritating, story of a young man who has moved to New York City with two aims: (1) not working in data entry any more, and (2) rocking out. He listens to lots of cool indie rock, and builds what is, to him, the most inclusive rock band ever. I liked the earnest committment to his original goals, even when he sleeps with a republican bible-bashing groupie and catches an STI. 1/1

Television

BBC Breakfast – BBC One, 7 am every day
Now I'm no great fan of Natasha Kaplinsky, but something has gone seriously wrong with this programme. Bill Turnbull always seems like he's going to make the last joke of his career. I seriously expect him to crack one day while speaking for the hundredth consecutive minute about the soddin NHS. Michal Hussein is lovely but pregnant. That Scottish woman who does the weather has a voice that makes me want to cut my own head off. She also does this irritating sotto voce gasping in between each sentence, which once noticed can never again be avoided. Their news coverage today consisted of some more stuff about the sodding NHS, and two features about what the Queen wears. Royal outfitting has always been a hobby of mine, but please, BBC can we not have some news too? 0/0

EuroNews – EuroNews Channel, all the time
At first, I thought that this was some sort of Brussels based EU funded snore machine which was designed to give grey beaureaucrats the grey, beaureaucratic news they wanted, when they wanted it. While I was mostly right about that, EuroNews is the only channel which seems to offer a decent, frequent and yet in-depth coverage of international news all the time. Every now and then, they take five minutes out to inform us about potters in Tromso or some art gallery in Siena. Brilliant accompaniment to a smug short black coffee in the morning. 1/1

Films

King Kong (the new one)
Quite good. A bit too long. 1/1

Harry Potter (yeah, what?) (the new one)
Quite good. Far too long. 1/1

V for Vendetta – made by some dead pigs in a hole
So bad, it was just BAD. Way too long, fell asleep before the 'climax'. 0/1

April 18, 2006 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment 

The big match

This'll be my first time watching ITV for a long time. AC Milan versus FC Barcelona…. as previously, if AC Milan win, this post will disappear. But they won't win.

Força Barça!

April 18, 2006 | Filed Under General | 2 Comments 

Vice Land

Vice Magazine's best segment is the reviews of pornographic DVDs which never touch on the pornography, but  are instead a curious mix of philosophy and inner monologue written by some skater guy. That and the book reviews.

April 18, 2006 | Filed Under General | 1 Comment 

Royal Trux lyrics

Some lyrics to your favourite songs (which you may have failed to comprehend previously). Lots of stuff from Thank You.

April 16, 2006 | Filed Under Music | 4 Comments 

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