Euro given '20% chance of survival'

Is this pessimistic or reality given the economic state of Greece, Portugal and Spain. At what cost is Germany prepared to support the Euro?

Read more: Euro given '20% chance of survival' - CEBR | This is Money

New Year crackdown on expat benefit fraud by DWP

We read in the Telegraph the announcement by the Department for Works and Pensions that there is to be a New Year crackdown on benefit fraud by UK expatriates.

Now don't get me wrong, as I abhor any form of theft, which benefit fraud is, but haven't we had several previous announcements by the DWP about stopping the expatriate fraudsters. I seem to recall that there have been reports that the current campaigns are not that successful in reducing the burden on the tax payer as the schemes campaigns cost more to administrate than the refund of illegal gains by the fraudsters.

On top of this, if the chat in the bars and restaraunts here in Spain is to be believed there is a considerable reluctance within the expatriate community to report suspected thieves to the confidential telephone hotline service. Having said this there are some residents like myself who have made reports to the hotline, even though we will never know if a benefit cheat has been stopped.

Read more: New Year crackdown on expat benefit fraud - Telegraph

United Kingdom Identity cards are to be scrapped.

The Identity Documents Bill received Royal Assent on the 21st December 2010 which means that United kingdom Identity Cards will be scrapped.

All ID cards will be cancelled within one month and the National Identity Register, the database which contains the biographic information and biometric fingerprint data of card holders, will be physically destroyed within two months.

Home Office Minister Damian Green commented that "The Identity Card Scheme represented the worst of government. It was intrusive, bullying, ineffective and expensive. The Government is committed to scaling back the power of the state and restoring civil liberties. This is just the first step in the process of restoring and maintaining our freedoms."

The Identity Card Scheme and associated work around biometrics has already cost the taxpayer £292 million. Cancelling identity cards will save the taxpayer around £86m over the next four years once one-off costs like decommissioning costs, contract termination and asset write-offs are taken into account. Planned future investment set out in the National Identity Service Cost Report 2009 of £835 million up to 2019 will be stopped.

All existing cardholders will be notified in writing and the Identity and Passport Service will now inform international border agencies, travel operators and customers of the change in law.

Read More: IPS - Identity cards consigned to history by the Coalition Government

Another Most Wanted is captured in Spain

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers confirms the successful arrest of another of Britain’s most wanted individuals under Operation Captura.

Dennis Patrick O'BRIEN (DoB: 28/07/1949) was arrested on Saturday evening (18/12/2010) in the Trafalgar Bar, Calahonda in the Costa Del Sol. The arrest was part of an ongoing operation by the Spanish National Police and the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency targeting bars in the region which are known to be regular haunts of criminals.

As part of Operation Captura O'BRIEN was circulated as one of the UK's most wanted fugitives in December 2007. O'BRIEN is sought on an EAW originally issued in 2006 by Merseyside Police and faces prosecution for Conspiracy to Supply Cocaine with a street value of over £166 million.

Read more detail here: Another Most Wanted is captured in Spain

Prime Minister Zapatero says Spain will take five years to correct imbalances

During his appearance in the Congress to report about the last EU summit, the Prime Minister, José Zapatero, has said that Spain will need five years to correct structural imbalances in the economy.

In his view, the task of correcting these imbalances will not be just for the government but it will be a joint effort which requires adopting a perspective that allows to join efforts and reach agreements. The future must see a series of reforms, efforts, productivity and covenants. He said "it should be a time of vision, scope, responsibility and ability to drive and commitment even though it is unpopular. And of course we are willing to do that".

Read more: Zapatero dice que España tardará cinco años en corregir los desequilibrios. europapress.es

23 Municipalities in the Alicante region under investigation linked to Corruption

Corruption plagues the local governments within the Alicante region of Spain according to an article in the El País newspaper.

A total of 23 of the 141 municipalities of the province are involved in criminal justice investigation through illegal activities of its political leaders, linked primarily to the business of waste and urban planning. The bulk of crimes are in relation to alleged bribes by businessmen to public officers in exchange for contracts, and illegal use of land, mostly for illegal construction on rural land and unlicensed development. Of the 23 municipalities, 18 are in the hands of the Partido Popular party. The remaining 5 are governed by the PSPV.

In the case of Orihuela the municipality in which I live, which is currently and has been for the past 20 plus years subject to a Partido Popular controlled council there are two major cases before the courts. The first, the spearhead of municipal corruption rampant in Alicante towns, dating from 2006, known as the 'caso Orihuela' is for alleged crimes related to urban planning and illegal financial awards. The second is at the epicenter of Brugal case: the award of the contract for municipal waste, including the alleged crimes of bribery, fraud and influence peddling. The main defendants are the PP Mayor, Monica Lorente, and three of her councillors.

Corruption in local government is of no surprise whatsoever to the residents within not only Orihuela, the Alicante Province, or the Valencia Region, all controlled by the PP.

Read the full El País article here: La gestión de 23 Ayuntamientos de Alicante, bajo la lupa de los jueces · ELPAÍS.com

I've been 'Plagiarized' and I didn't feel a thing!

On the 1st December 2010 I published my article entitled Expatriate Residents Apathy to Voting : No Vote, No Right to Complain! and as I do often circulated a link to it to a few readers including some local newspaper editors and reporters

One of the local English papers (Not the Euro Weekly whose Editor kindly left a comment on the article) has published on the internet and in the printed publication an article about residents registering to vote in the forthcoming local elections. As I'm reading the article published over 10 days after mine I am thinking to myself several passages seem very familiar to me. Then two particular expressions stood out, 'no vote, no right to complain' and ' complain vociferously' so I decided to investigate this further.

What I've found is that several passages from my article have been sprinkled around the paper's article. None of them attributed as quotes from myself or reference made to my weblog as the original source.

These are the passages I found copied. Well I say copied as it could be pure coincidence that the writer came up with the same wording as me couldn't it?

My Blog Article: No Vote, No Right to Complain!
Local Paper's Article: No vote, no right to complain

Blog: Expatriate Residents Apathy to Voting
Paper: expatriate apathy to voting.

Blog: In the elections in May 2007 there were only 3500 Orihuela Costa residents registered to vote out of a population in the region of 27000; that was just less than 13%. It is a fact that since 2007 many expatriates have returned to their home countries so the meagre 3500 will have without doubt reduced in number.
Paper: in the elections in May 2007 there were only 3500 Orihuela Costa residents registered to vote out of a population in the region of 27000; that was just less than 13 percent. It is a fact that since 2007 many expatriates have returned to their home countries so the meagre 3500 will have without doubt reduced in number.

Blog: very ready to complain vociferously about the failings .... to do something about it and put their vote where their voice is!
Paper: very ready to complain vociferously about the failings ..... to do something about it and put their vote where their voice is.

Blog: If you don't vote, and don't get what you want, don't complain afterwards
Paper: if you don't vote, and then don't get what you want, then you can’t complain afterwards.

So, I think that I've been plagiarized, and I didn't feel a thing! Well my work really, not me physically.

What I cannot get right in my mind is whether I should be indignant or proud, or both. It's a compliment to be copied isn't it? Isn't it polite to ask before copying someone else's work? Isn't it the norm to give a link or reference to the source of material? Shouldn't those passages have been shown as quotes by me? Does it really matter?

I'm falling on the side of pride at this time, taking it as a compliment, but if it happens again perhaps I might become indignant.

If anyone reading this is a writer what do you think? Is plagiarism acceptable or are there boundaries?

New job causes consternation

Mireille Toddington of the CoastRider newspaper has written an article, I like to think, as a result, partly, of reading my observations about the new appointment of Louise Clarke as Press Officer for Monica Lorente, Patido Popular Mayor of Orihuela. At least that's one newspaper prepared to comment on the actions of a fellow journalist.

It will be interesting to see if the other local English papers published this week will carry an article about Louise Clarke's new appointment.

CoastRider: New job causes consternation

Wikileaks protests in Spain over Julian Assange arrest

The BBC carries a report that "protests have taken place across Spain calling for the release of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is facing extradition from the UK to Sweden for alleged sexual offences, and that "Hundreds of people gathered outside the British embassy in Madrid calling for him to be freed".

Read more:BBC News - Wikileaks protests in Spain over Julian Assange arrest

Opposition Parties Shocked by Mayor Lorente's New Press Officer Appointment in Orihuela Costa!

Thursday the 2^nd December was a day that the Opposition parties, in Orihuela Costa, of the Orihuela Town Council, would never think they could experience in their wildest nightmares! As several of them explained to me it was a day of personal shock and consternation for the future of Orihuela Costa. Having heard what they had to say I have the same feelings.

What could have caused such surprise and disbelief amongst them?

It was the day they learnt that Louise Clarke, the reporter covering the southern area of the Costa Blanca for the Round Town News, the area in which the Orihuela municipal is situated, is to leave the paper at the end of December to take up a new position. During her time with the newspaper the Opposition parties have perceived her as an ally in their fight against the governing Partido Popular party in the Town Council. They feel that she has been the most vehement reporter of all the local area newspapers in bringing to the readers attention any failings of the PP Mayor, Monica Lorente, and her team, in providing the services and facilities to the residents of the Orihuela municipality and in particular the Orihuela Costa area. The Opposition parties believe that Louise Clarke has played a considerable part, up till now, in helping them to have a chance to get their criticisms of the governing PP into print and circulated to the public. They believed in her honesty and integrity in her writings, and that the readers of the RTN felt the same. They have attributed to her the role of a thorn in the side or a stone in the shoe of Mayor Lorente. Louise Clarke has always seemed to accept and relish this task.

It is not so much the departure from the paper that has caused such foreboding, it is to where she is going.

She informed the members of the Opposition that she had accepted the offer of the newly created position of Press Officer for Monica Lorente, Mayor of Orihuela and leader of the governing Partido Popular party.

Louise Clarke is joining the government team that she has been so critical about for the last four years at least!

Why has Monica Lorente offered her this job? The simple answer in the words of Louise Clarke when I discussed it with her is “My job is to get Monica Lorente more votes on the coast,..... I will be the voice of the PP within the Town Hall in Orihuela Costa”. The other probable answer from Monica Lorente's point of view is to remove the thorn and the stone and get Louise Clarke under her control to stop future criticism from that source.

Why has Louise Clarke accepted this role? I believe the simple answer is the money, as I understand it, a substantial increase in salary from that at the RTN newspaper. For mercenary reasons, not for Partido Popular ideological reasons!

There is also, I understand, the tempting promise that, after the May 2011 elections, of assuming the role of the European Residents Liaison Officer in the Orihuela Costa Town Hall, a position currently held by Mr Stefan Pokroppa, who, it is felt within the PP, has not connected with the United Kingdom and Ireland expatriate residents. However he is to be included in the PP's election candidate list and expected to become a PP Councillor in the May 2011 elections. A reward for not doing his job properly. What if he doesn't become a Councillor, will he stay in his current position?

When I spoke to Louise Clarke about her new, unprecedented, role she commented that she will be the “Andy Coulson of the Costa Blanca”. She went on to say that it will be a “hard and challenging job” working with Monica Lorente and the PP.

I suggested that in order to carry out the task successfully a person in her position would normally be a supporter of the PP ideology and member of the party and asked about her about this. She confirmed that she is not a member and does not intend at this time to join the PP party.

On the question of whether she would miss writing about, and trying to help solve, the problems of local residents suffering from the failings of the PP controlled Town Council, she made the point that she believes she can help the English speaking expatriate residents better from inside the PP government rather than from outside as in the past. She believes that she can help and influence the Mayor and her Councillors to change their attitude to Orihuela Costa and its residents; really!

Having been in contact with representatives of the three official Opposition parties and made aware of their views about Louise Clarke's new role, I was interested to hear that she is hopeful that she will be able to liaise and work with the parties in the same manner as in the past few years whilst being a non-partisan reporter. I think not, as their trust in her has been badly damaged, if not totally destroyed, by her unexpected decision to join the PP team. How much of what she learnt as a critic of Monica Lorente from the Opposition party representatives, perhaps about their plans to bring about the defeat of the PP in forthcoming elections, will be passed on to the Mayor.

From my perspective I can understand why Monica Lorente and the PP have taken the step of creating the role of a press officer to deal with English speaking residents in Orihuela Costa. With the May 2011 local elections getting closer they have to take some drastic actions to try to convince the electorate that the party is not as bad as people on the coast think; and know. The Mayor has probably realized that the infamous Stefan Pokroppa (European Residents Liaison Officer) has no respect amongst the majority of UK and Irish residents and she needs a face in the Town Hall who the people might trust. Monica Lorente obviously believes that Louise Clarke could be that person. The PP know that the party's future fortunes in government rest with the electorate on the coast and must do anything to gain votes.

In the case of why Louise Clarke has changed sides and joined the PP government team I’m still trying to fully understand her action but thoughts such as; 30 pieces of silver; selling one’s soul to the devil; sold out for gold; what cost principles; come to mind. Unlike Margaret Thatcher who said “You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning.” obviously for the right price this lady is for turning!

We all want to provide for our family and for their future so it is understandable that she should look for a position that offers a better financial package but at what price to ones principles and conscience. What value does it put on the words she has written in the past when criticising the actions of the PP now we learn they are to be her employer!

Having listened to her explanation and reasoning for her accepting the new position I don’t believe that she believes some of the points she made to me, and to the Opposition parties on Thursday from what I've been told. I think they are excuses, justifications, for taking the 30 pieces of silver.

I consider that uncharacteristically she is being very naive if she believes she can change the way that the PP party machine in Orihuela headed by the 'Devil Incarnate' Mayor Monica Lorente works. She might be given a few token titbits at first to make her feel at home and of some small value, but ultimately the PP is a closed shop of Monica Lorente and her dubious close cohorts, the 'illuminanti' of the PP. They are only interested in achieving their own personal ambitions and the Orihuela Town Council is just a tool for them to use as is the cash from Orihuela Costa. As suggested to me, Monica Lorente's ultimate goal is to be President of the Valencia regional government and Orihuela is a mere stepping stone to be used on the way. That's the employer who Louise Clarke will be working for and promoting to the electorate as a public spirited Mayor; really!

I have no doubt in my mind that we the sensible electorate have to stop the PP and the ‘Devil Incarnate’ Lorente from continuing to be the government in the Town Council after the elections in May 2011, for the benefit of Orihuela as a whole and the Orihuela Costa residents in particular.

There will a battle royal between now and the 22^nd May 2011 election for the Opposition parties to fight and win. The PP hunting season will need to begin with greater vigour. One thing is certain, by accepting her new role as press officer for the unpopular Monica Lorente, Louise Clarke has certainly, like any mercenary, put herself in the battlefield and the line of fire. I hope she has a very thick skin, suit of amour, and a guardian angel (although I don’t believe in such things). Unfortunately there will be casualties and if she is a victim of the fight for fair and honest government that is the way it has to be for the benefit of the residents of Orihuela Costa. She knows from her journalistic experience that politics can be a dirty game and she’s joined the dirtiest players.

I hope for Louise Clarke's sake that the financial rewards are really worth it! Once she steps over the threshold into the PP camp there will be no turning back. The good reputation she has personally built up in the past with the public will be lost. How long will it be before Monica Lorente decides that Louise Clarke has served her purpose, is of no more value to the PP and Ms Lorente's ambitions, and is thrown by the wayside. A substantial financial gain now may not lead to financial security in the long run!

It seems to me that two desperate women, one for more power and one for more money, have made a pact, an alliance, to try to mislead the electorate of Orihuela Costa into voting for four more years of the same selfish secretive government they have suffered for the last twenty or more years.

Expatriate Residents Apathy to Voting :- No Vote, No Right to Complain!

Time and time again we hear in the local expatriate frequented bars and restaurants, and we read in the local English newspapers, of complaints from foreign residents in the Orihuela Municipality, and in particular in Orihuela Costa, about the Town Council's failures to look after the needs of the residents.

On the 22nd May 2011 the citizens of the municipality will have the opportunity to voice their opinions in the ultimate way by casting their vote in the local elections.

That is provided they have registered their intention to vote on the Electoral Register by the 31st December 2010!

To activate the foreign residents to register there is currently running various campaigns of encouragement under the title of 'No Vote, No Voice'. There currently is, and has been for several months, a plethora of information in newspapers and on government websites on how to, and the importance of, registering to vote in the May 2011, and future, local elections, aimed at non-Spanish residents.

Unfortunately from the information I have received, from different sources, the campaign 'No Vote, No Voice' in its various guises has at this point in time in Orihuela Costa failed to produce a substantial increase in the number of voter registrations.

Not because there has not been enough information available but because of expatriate residents apathy with regards voting!

Let me explain!

To be included on the Electoral Register a resident has first of all to be registered on the municipal civil register, the 'Padrón', a record of all residents within the council area. Unlike Spanish residents who when they register on the Padrón are automatically also included on the electoral list, peculiarly and unfairly, expatriate residents have not been offered this but have had to ask to be added. This was something they were not made aware of.

Because of this inequality the Censo Electoral office covering the Alicante province in which Orihuela is situated has, as a result of political pressure, sent out by post approximately 7500 electoral registration application forms to those foreign residents who have been added to the Padron since 2007 and not added to the electoral register. The completed forms can be posted back to the electoral office.

From information supplied from the 'Censo Electoral' office it would seem that as at the 31st October of the 7500 forms sent out only 450 have been returned completed, that is just 6% or 1 in 16 persons.

However of those returned 100 showed that the resident did not want the right to vote. That reduces the percentage of those saying they wish to vote to just 4.7% or less than 1 in 20 of the electorate.

The deadline for returning the form is the end of December so there could still be a chance of a few more being returned. Having said this there is also the facility to return them direct to the Town Hall. There are no firm numbers by this route. Being generous let's assume the same number as by post. That would still only give a figure of 700 positive registrations being just 9.4% of eligible new residents since 2007 wishing to have the right to vote!

In the elections in May 2007 there were only 3500 Orihuela Costa residents registered to vote out of a population in the region of 27000; that was just less than 13%. It is a fact that since 2007 many expatriates have returned to their home countries so the meagre 3500 will have without doubt reduced in number. The exact figure is not known but let's assume a conservative 10% reducing the figure to 3150. Now to this must be added the possible increase of 700 giving an estimated total of 3850 registered voters in Orihuela Costa; that is only 14.25% of the population.

As expatriate residents account for the substantial majority of the total population in Orihuela Costa that is why I believe that the majority of them are apathetic towards voting in the local elections for the Orihuela Town Council. They are very ready to complain vociferously about the failings of the incumbent council but not to do something about it and put their vote where their voice is!

What is the solution to get them to vote? I don't know. Perhaps there isn't a cure for apathy, unless it hits their wallets.

But it is hitting their pockets. They are paying taxes for services that they are not getting from the council. They are being conned out of their money by the council for inferior quality infrastructure, for inferior levels of policing, for inferior quality schooling for their children, inferior social amenities, inferior quality of environment, and many more failures that result in an inferior overall quality of life in Orihuela Costa.

I cannot see the logic of any resident not wishing to have the right to vote in local government elections where they live. I have no truck with the idea that foreign residents shouldn't get involved in local politics. The phrase 'No taxation without representation' springs to mind.

If only I could shout aloud to the electorate.

“Wake up citizens of Orihuela, act now so you can voice your opinion in the ballot box with your vote. Get your butts off the settee, or the bar stool, or the cafeteria bench, or the restaurant chair, and get your electoral register form completed and get it to the Town Hall or electoral censor office before the end of December, so you can vote in May 2011. The council that is elected then will control your environment and life as a resident of the municipality for the next four years. If you want change for the better then you must vote. If you don't vote, and don't get what you want, don't complain afterwards”!

Perhaps the campaign should be renamed to 'No Vote – No Right to Complain'.

Parking an Elevator - will the wall survive?

Those of us who live in Spain know from experience the appalling quality of the parking of vehicles. Here we see an attempt to park an elevator without knocking a wall down. Will the driver do it or not?

Orihuela Costa Residents Indifferent Towards Corruption in Government!

Today at 11:00 hrs. the Mayor of Orihuela, Monica Lorente was in Orihuela Costa to officially open the new sports centre on the coast.

Also today the non-political 'Association for Transparency' held a demonstration in front of the Town Hall in Orihuela at 12:00 hrs. against corruption in the governing Partido Popular party in light of the serious corruption case affecting the Orihuela Town Council and the governing team. The investigation of the 'Operation Brugal' corruption case has resulted in the arrest of three of the PP Councillors in Orihuela and a proposal by the anti-corruption prosecutor to include the Mayor, Monica Lorente within the investigation and possibly the accused. The Spanish press are reporting that 300 or more concerned Orihuela residents attended the demonstration in Orihuela.

The organisers of the main demonstration decided to take the opportunity of the Mayor's visit to the coast to stage an additional earlier show of strength of the residents of Orihuela Costa at the inauguration of the sports centre. The Round Town News reported on the planned demonstration in its current edition of the 26th November based on a press release by the coastal CLARO political party which supported the demonstration.

Although not members of any political party, Mrs S and I had no hesitation in attending the demonstration anticipating, hoping, like the organisers that a large number of residents would show their support against corruption. How wrong we and they were.

As can be seen from the photograph there were only approximately 40 people supporting the demonstration, situated opposite the sports centre being opened by the Mayor at the same time. With the size of  population in the Orihuela Costa area of the municipality being similar to that of the town this is a very poor response compared with that in Orihuela where 8 times as many citizens were prepared to stand up and be counted.

The conclusion from this very low level of support would indicate that Orihuela Costa residents are indifferent towards 'Corruption in Government'! What a sorry state of affairs!

The Euro Game Is Up - Nigel Farage MEP

Whether you agree with him or not he doesn't mince his words

Moronic Householder comes out of hibernation.

It has been 14 days since my last sighting of the results of the work of the Moronic Householder in my locality. Whilst I hoped, and still do, for a miracle I know that the sub-human species 'Homo Moron Paterfamilias' is not extinct, as many other people have recently commented to me that they to have MHs living in their localities.

I was living with false hope that our local MH had either moved away or had a change of intellect and attitude. But no; the workings of MH materialised again this morning.

Having woken-up from a short hibernation, like many animals do, MH has decided it's time to clean out the bed chamber of 'Casa del idiota'. How thoughtful to bring the old mattress and pillows out, of course undercover of the evening dark , and leave them lying in the street for some homeless person; or drunken holidaymaker who can't remember in the early hours of the morning where the rented villa is; to use for comfort for the night. Although looking at the state of them even drunks and the homeless might have second thoughts.

What is even more anthropologically interesting about this is that we may have at least two MHs locally. Earlier this morning the fly tipped bedding could be seen situated between the rubbish container and the perimeter wall seen in the photograph. At some point another MH had dragged the items away from the wall, I wonder who, and left them to the side of the bin. Wouldn't it have been a sensible idea to have deposited the pillows into the bin? Of course not leave it up to some other resident to clean up.

All that MH had to do in the moment of drowsiness was to telephone the refuse collection coordinator at the Town Hall and arrange for the mattress to have been collected, free of charge and at an agreed time, from casa del idiota to save it lying and rotting in the street until the council's cleaning contractor deems to pass by and collect it.

Oh well a short photo-email to VS at the Town Hall should do the job to clean up MH's mess, again.

The Spanish Parliament is moving closer to allowing the right to Die with Dignity

Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, Spain's vice president and interior minister has announced that in March 2011 the Government will approve a law of Palliative Care and Death With Dignity Act to ensure the rights of terminal patients. He made clear that this would not be a law for euthanasia but is saying that where death is inevitable today's medicine has mechanisms to allow death to occur with dignity, that is, without suffering and pain for patients and their families, and that the Law of Palliative Care and Death with Dignity is of great importance because it would allow any citizen have the right to die with dignity.

I believe this would be a step in the right direction and hope that all members of the Parliament will support and approve the law.

Read more: El Gobierno aprobará una ley sobre muerte digna en casos terminales. europapress.es

In 7 Days Guardia Civil fined 2800 drivers for using a mobile phone.

In Spain, within a seven day period from the 8^th to the 14^th November the Traffic Division of the Guardia Civil have fined 2800 drivers for using a mobile phone whilst driving during a special campaign to raise awareness amongst motorists of the dangers of carrying out actions whilst driving that distract their attention.

Using a handheld mobile telephone whilst driving is the most common action, prohibited by law, that causes a distraction to a driver but is not a unique. It is estimated that it is a factor that has been present in four out of ten accidents so far this year.

In addition 32 drivers were fined for programming or adjusting GPS satellite navigation units, while driving, another 124 for using headphones and a further 368 drivers for other behaviours that also distract. In the seven days the agents of the Guardia Civil issued 3,316 fines for actions that are a distraction when driving. Mobile phone use remains a common practice among some drivers, as evidenced by the fact that 84 percent of the fines relate to the use of the phone.

A positive point that has been found in the campaign is the increase in the number of device drivers using hands-free systems in the car, which accounted for 25 percent of vehicles stopped. However those drivers continue to use the phone even though, according to various studies, its use is a factor which quadruples the risk of accidents and the risk of the driver when talking on the phone while driving can be comparable to driving excess alcohol.

Voting in Spanish local elections

Sunday the 22nd May 2011 will see the local Municipal elections in Spain. All European Union citizens who are resident in Spain and are 18 years of age or over are entitled to be included in the electoral role and vote in Spain on that day.

The United Kingdom Embassy in Madrid has issued information and guidelines to help UK nationals register to vote if they so wish, subject to the correct criteria.

This is the opportunity for all eligible UK expatriat residents to voice their opinion on how their adopted Town Council should operate to provide the services needed for the local community. It is one that should not be missed, as no vote means no voice and no representation.

To read more click Voting in Spanish elections

God or Nothing

Another thought provoking video from Pat Condell.

Dangerous chemicals in food wrappers likely migrating to humans

University of Toronto scientists have found that chemicals used to line junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are migrating into food and being ingested by people where they are contributing to chemical contamination observed in blood.

Read more:
Dangerous chemicals in food wrappers likely migrating to humans
ScienceDaily

Moronic Householder reaches Top Table for Idiots.

I mentioned a few days ago about the Moroni Householder leaving his or her Brains by the rubbish bin.

Well would you believe it – Yes I Would (echo)– the M.H. is back again. With an even more crass act.

On this occasion M.H. has reached the top table for idiots. No longer wishing to be the proud owner of a glass tabletop, the brain wave, if you'll pardon the assumption that one exists, in the head is to leave the glass top leaning against the rubbish bin. Everyone knows, except for M.H. it seems, that the bin is emptied by the use of a semi automated single manned 'skip' lorry so it (the bin) has to be lifted to be emptied.

As can be seen from the photograph the position where the glass tabletop has been left will result in two major possibilities. The first is that, as has already happened, the bin will not be emptied because the skip lorry driver will not get out of the vehicle, in the middle of the night, and move the tabletop to enable the bin to be lifted. The second is that the driver will ignore the top, when the bin is full and overflowing, as it might be soon, lift the bin and allow the inevitable falling and smashing of the glass on the road. This will then present a danger to the public using the bin or to animals passing by.

There is another possibility, that a vandal will break the glass 'just for fun'!

Now either, the person is too stupid to think of the consequences of where the glass is left, or just doesn't give a damn what happens, after it has been dumped in the street, as it's out of personal sight so out of mind, and someone else can clean up any mess. Either is the action of a Moronic Householder.

Yes I know I'm showing an intolerant attitude towards crass stupidity, and always will, but what if a child or beloved pet is injured by broken glass because of M.H's. action? Who could suffer, it won't be M.H. that's for sure! Who will clean-up after the crash, it won't be M.H. that's for sure!

Organic onions, carrots and potatoes do not have higher levels of healthful antioxidants

With the demand for organically produced food increasing, scientists are reporting new evidence that organically grown onions, carrots, and potatoes generally do not have higher levels of healthful antioxidants and related substances than vegetables grown with traditional fertilizers and pesticides.

Organic onions, carrots and potatoes do not have higher levels of healthful antioxidants, study finds ScienceDaily 04.11.2010

Spanish naming customs could change.

In Spain when registering a birth it is the normal practice to give the child two surnames with the fathers surname being chosen before that of the mother. The current law does not stipulate which of the parent's name should come first.

However this could all be about to change if a proposal by the current socialist government ever becomes law. When the birth is registered the registrars will be instructed to put the parents surnames in alphabetical order unless the parents request it to different. Concern is being expressed that this may over time lead to a loss of surnames beginning with the letters in the later end of the alphabet.

When referring to the proposed changes José Antonio Alonso, the socialist party's parliamentary leader is reported as saying "This is more democratic and equal,". The leader of the right wing Partido Popular, Mariano Rajoy, has indicated the party's intention to fight the proposals.

This is however purely an administrative matter as it is quite normal for a Spanish person to choose to be known in day to day life by just one surname of their choice. It could be either that of the mother or the father. an example of this is the Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, is more usually referred to as José Zapatero.

In the case of our local mayor in Orihuela, Mónica Lorente Ramón is normally referred to by just her first surname, Mónica Lorente, other than those that can't be repeated here.

Never mind the priorities of surnames the government should get the priorities for the Spanish economy right first!

Mediterranean diet helps control cholesterol: Adding monounsaturated fats to a low-cholesterol diet can further improve levels

A new study 24 patients by members of the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto has found that the addition of monounsaturated fat to a cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio in patients with mild to moderate elevated cholesterol levels increased HDL by 12.5 percent and lowered LDL levels by 35 percent.

They found significant reductions in blood cholesterol levels over the two month study period for participants.

In my (non-medical) opinion anything that offers an alternative to swallowing pills containing statins has to be a good thing and investigated further. Doctors are too ready to prescribe statins as a panacea to reduce cholesterol to the magic level. And, from the incidents I know of, why do they always start at the strongest 40 mg. level.

Read more:
Mediterranean diet helps control cholesterol: Adding monounsaturated fats to a low-cholesterol diet can further improve levels
ScienceDaily

Carnage on Spanish Highways - 42 deaths in 5 Days

The Halloween and All Saints Day holiday weekend has seen carnage on the roads of Spain with a total 24 people dead.

A spokesman for the Directorate General of Traffic has reported that from 15.00 hrs. on Friday (29^th October) up to 20.00 hrs. on Monday (1^st November) there have been 22 fatal accidents in which the 24 people have died and another 26 have been injured of which 13 are of a serious nature.

The figures make grim reading with the highest number of deaths (10) on Saturday with almost half of this figure on each of Sunday and Monday. The final death toll could be higher as the figures issued were only up to 20.00 hrs. and many of the holiday return journeys had not been completed.

Add the 18 deaths reported for the previous weekend that means 42 lives have been prematurely terminated on the Spanish roads over two consecutive weekends. That's 42 deaths in 5 days.

What a terrible, unnecessary waste of human life, undoubtedly due to human error and bad driving.

Post Script, 02.11.2010.
The total number of deaths has unfortunately been update to 26 up to 24.00 hrs. on the 1st November. That makes an astonishing total for this year up to 31st October of 1448 road traffic fatalities. Something has got to be done to stop this carnage!
Europa Press

New test equipment enhances police traffic surveillance

Police surveillance of seatbelt compliance and speeding is getting a boost thanks to the development of new test equipment by Finnish researchers. Developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the equipment also measures distance between vehicles, road surface condition and calculates traffic emissions.

The test equipment, which is based on automatic camera surveillance and wireless network connection, is part of an EU project aimed at improving traffic safety and reducing accidents caused by traffic rule violations. The equipment is handily located on a mobile trailer unit. The police are thus able to monitor traffic and impose penalties for violations more comprehensively and fairly. The monitoring information is gathered into a common database available to the police, road operators and environmental authorities. A pilot system has been launched in Tampere enabling the police to test the equipment, along with three other sites located in Germany, France and Austria..

Any step that improves road safety and reduces road deaths has to be a good thing.

Read more:New test equipment enhances police traffic surveillance (Science Daily)

All Saints Day and Halloween in Spain

A short video that explains the meaning of today, All Saints Day

Moronic Householder leaves Brains by Rubbish Bin.

The title may seem somewhat harsh but I believe it is the reality of the situation.

For those not familiar with the rubbish collection system in Spain, the large grey rubbish bin is situated in the street for use of the local residents to dispose of their day to day household waste. It is not intended for recyclable items, garden waste, old furniture, building rubble and other non-normal household waste. In our town, each evening, subject to the whim of the council or it's cleaning contractor, the bin is emptied by the use of a semi automated single manned 'skip' lorry. It is well known amongst householders that what is in the bin may be collected, but what is not is left where it is.

From the two photographs below it can be seen that either side close by, within 25 metres ( metric measurement you'll note), to the grey bin are areas of open ground where the stones could have been neatly disposed of.

But that would have been too easy for the moronic householder. Instead the person takes the heavy bucket and black plastic bag of stones to the bin where they will stay, for many days, until someone else decides to clear them away. Chances are it will probably be me! OK the stones shouldn't be put in the bin but as least that would have been better than leaving them where they are. Now either, the person is too stupid to think of that, or not strong enough to lift the bucket and bag in entirety into the bin and too stupid to think of putting a few stones in at a time.

Now I'm not adverse to criticising the council when they fail to clear away the rubbish properly, but at the least the householders could help by not filling the streets with non-collectable rubbish. This might be just one incident but it is symptomatic of the attitude of a lot of property owners; get rid of the rubbish from my property and don't give a damn what happens when its been dumped in the street. Out of personal sight out of mind.

Yes I know I'm becoming a 'Grumpy Old Man', it's my right at my age, but at least that's got if off my chest. Perhaps just perhaps the moron might read this, if I tell enough local people this post is here, and have a change of heart, or perhaps it might make other residents think twice about where they put their rubbish.

Putting the clocks back this weekend could be detrimental to health.

Not putting the clocks back this weekend but still putting them forward in the spring would be a simple and effective way to vastly improve our health and well-being, says an expert in the online British Medical Journal.

Research shows that people feel happier, more energetic and have lower sickness rates in the longer and brighter days of summer, whereas their mood tends to decline during the shorter and darker days of winter.

In the case of the older and less mobile generation this can lead to depression as the feeling of isolation is felt because of the difficult of getting out and about in the darker hours of the afternoons and early evenings. To some people, and my self included, it can make one feel claustrophobic in the long dark nights.

It is suggested that the majority of the public are in favour of not returning the clocks to GMT in the winter months.

Read More:
Not putting the clocks back this weekend would improve health, says expert
Science Daily

Further articles
Telegraph: Putting clock back makes older people depressed
 Age UK: Clocks should not be turned back

Foreclosure in Spain Can Mean Lifetime Debt to Bank

In an article in the New York Times Suzanne Dayley reports that 'An estimated 1.4 million Spaniards are facing potential foreclosure proceedings, according to Spain’s consumer protection association, known as the Adicae. Recent figures from the courts show that the numbers are rising fast. In 2007, there were just 26,000 foreclosures. Last year, there were more than 93,000. Early indications suggest that they will be higher again in 2010'

she highlights the diffence in the way mortgage debt is treated in Spain compared to countries such as America and the United Kingdom.

For many Spanish mortgage holders, no longer able to pay their mortgages, the fine print in the deals they agreed to years ago is catching up with them. Not only are they personally liable for the full amount of the loan, but throw in penalty interest charges and tens of thousands of dollars in court fees, and people can end up facing an enormous amount of debt. Bankruptcy is not the answer because mortgage debt is specifically excluded in Spain.

There could be a very large shock for mortgage defaulters who think that they can hand the keys of the property to the bank and walk away.

Read the full article:
Foreclosure in Spain Can Mean Lifetime Debt to Bank - NYTimes.com

Highly targeted radiation technique minimizes side effects of prostate cancer treatment, study finds

Men with prostate cancer treated with a specialized type of radiation called intensity modulated radiation therapy have fewer gastrointestinal complications compared to patients treated with conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, according to a new study.

Read More:
Highly targeted radiation technique minimizes side effects of prostate cancer treatment, study finds
ScienceDaily (2010-10-25)

Scented consumer products shown to emit many unlisted chemicals

Even "green" fragranced products give off many chemicals that are not listed on the label, including some that are classified as toxic. A study of 25 of the most popular scented products showed they emit 133 different chemicals, of which only two are listed anywhere.

An interesting article in the Science Daily about a study, although carried out in America and makes reference to American legislation, which analyzed air fresheners including sprays, solids and oils; laundry products including detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets; personal care products such as soaps, hand sanitizers, lotions, deodorant and shampoos; and cleaning products including disinfectants, all-purpose sprays and dish detergent. All were widely used brands which are almost certainly available worldwide in different formats.

My family has certainly experienced uncomfortable or adverse effects when using some commonly available products in the home.

Read More: Scented consumer products shown to emit many unlisted chemicals

382,000 Spanish computers became zombies

In Europe, Spain has become the country where there is a greater number of infections of computers related to 'botnets'. It has the highest number of infections in the period between January and July 2010, when 382,000 Spanish computers became zombies, ahead of France, Britain and Germany.

Microsoft has released the ninth edition of its Security Intelligence Report (SIRv9), which shows the current proliferation of 'botnets' - malicious robots-as a platform to develop the so-called cybercrime. The latest report, covering the period from January to June 2010, includes an analysis of data from more than 600 million computers worldwide, data collected through Microsoft products and tools, among which include products Forefont security, Windows Defender, Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows Internet Explorer, Bing and Malware Removal Tool (MSRT).

Microsoft's report also reveals the geographical variations exist in the problem of botnets.

In the second quarter of 2010, the United States recorded the highest number of botnet infections (2.2 million), followed by Brazil (550,000).

In terms of higher infection rate of botnets, South Korea was the country in which there was a higher incidence (14.6 infections per 1,000 computers scanned botnet), followed by Spain (12.4) and Mexico (11, 4).

Rimecud was detected as the botnet more consistent worldwide, an increase in significant proliferation: their infections shot up 860 percent in the last three months of 2009. Second, with 70 percent fewer infections, we see the botnet called Alureon.

Between April and June 2010, Microsoft disinfected more than 6.5 million computer botnets infections, double the same period last year.

portaltic.es

New political party for foreigners in Spain

The Round Town News this week publishes an article by Louise Clarke entitled  New political party for foreigners about the emergence of the political party Partido de Extranjeros (PDEX). The President of the new party Giulio Adinolfi is reported as saying the party's aims are to represent the rights of foreigners here in Spain.

With the next local elections due on the 22nd May 2011 this seems to be a 'déjà vu' situation of a similar time in 2006, prior to the May 2007 elections. Wasn't that when in Orihuela Costa we saw the emergence of the CLARO political party, which was perceived, rightly or wrongly, by many as a party of foreigners.

The point is made in the article that; 'On past experience, political parties like PDEX have found poor results and the low participation of foreigners at the time of municipal elections means that they very rarely get a seat on any of the councils that they stand for'. The results of the May 2007 local election in Orihuela would validate the point made, with CLARO failing to gain enough votes to obtain a seat on the Council.

The five municipalities that the PDEX are going to field candidates in does not include Orihuela, which in turn includes Orihuela Costa, although next door Torrevieja municipality is mentioned.

Perhaps a conclusion that could be reached is that CLARO has arranged an agreement with PDEX that the two parties don't challenge each other in the Orihuela elections. Or perhaps CLARO is to be amalgamated with PDEX. Or perhaps we could see a coalition election list.

Dear Mónica - No Vote, Yes Benefit

Sra. Mónica Lorente,
La Alcaldesa de Orihuela

Dear Mónica,

I know you will be aware of the misguided campaign being publicised by your local political opponents (PSOE, CLR and CLARO) to persuade residents registered on the Orihuela Municipal Padrón to register on the electoral census. They seem to have chosen a rather misleading slogan of 'No Vote, No Voice', and are trying to scare the people into believing that you and the Partido Popular don't listen to the residents of Orihuela Costa. How can the people think that? Its so unfair!

I suspect that, despite putting on a brave face, which I admire you for, you are not too happy about the possibility of 'los extranjeros' residents, and in particular those from Reino Unido, in Orihuela Costa registering to vote. I can understand your concerns that they don't understand Partido Popular democracy and don't have the knowledge of how politics in the Orihuela municipality is conducted. They are not aware of how open and honest members of the your party on the Town Council, and your personally selected, unbiased, 'asesors, have to behave when dealing with the public. They are not aware of the stringent steps your PP Town Councillors take to ensure that any contracts for public services are awarded without grace or favour to local, family, businesses. They (expatriates) have an illusory perception that nepotism and corruption have no place in Spanish local government.

We certainly don't want the 'status quo' political map being altered by these inexperienced foreign newcomers, do we?

Don't let all the talk about many thousands of those on the Padrón wanting to vote, its not true, we saw that in the election in 2007. Excuses were given that electoral census application forms were not received. Don't believe it, it was propaganda put out by your unpopular opponents to cover their lack of support amongst the residents. The truth is that as the form was foolishly printed in the language of the country the majority of expatriates couldn't understand it. The other point to remember is that the total figure of residents on the Padrón is over stated. There are many thousands of holiday home owners registered as inhabitants who only visit Orihuela a few weeks a year and should not be on the Padrón. They only registered to help your wonderfully benevolent Council receive funds from central government to spend on your fervent party supporters in Orihuela . They have no intention of voting in local elections. Why should it be any different here in Spain than from their own country. Apathy can travel very well.

If you're still a little concerned, I would like to suggest an alternative policy that you might consider to combat the ludicrous 'No Vote, No Voice' campaign. You could start your own, entitled 'No Vote, Yes Benefit' informing the foreign residents of Orihuela Costa that the Council is to consider offering a one off refund payment of the current years Council Tax to each eligible property owner. I suggest two criteria for entitlement to the refund. Firstly, and this will make the vast majority ineligible, the owner must genuinely believe that they have not received value for money for their taxes from your PP controlled Council. Secondly that they have not registered on the electoral register as at the 30^th December 2010, and therefore not entitled to vote on the 22 May 2011. You could inform them that the intention, at this point in time, providing the 2011 budget is ever approved, is to make the refund on the 1^st April 2011. You could of course extend it and include those who un-register from the electoral census! The people would be fools not to be tempted by the offer of money instead of a ballot paper. They could follow the example of many in Spanish politics and put self before civic responsibilty! Of course you don't have to honour any promise given to the residents, but I know that is not in your character.

Your enlightened resident and voter

P.S. Just to let you know that I defended your honour in a restaurant recently when I heard a group of people unfairly criticising that you wore two faces. It sounded like that's what they said. I pointed out to them that, like any attractive women, some days you might not want to wear make-up and on others you do, and they shouldn't criticise you for that.

Four-fifths of British expatriates have savings in sterling

The Telegraph reports on a survey carried out by Lloyds TSB International which concludes that nearly 80 per cent of British expatriates still have savings in sterling even if they have not lived in the UK for years nor have any intention in returning.

As an expat I can understand this. There is always the possibility of returning, and it's better to have a financial foot in two countries.

Read the full article here: Four-fifths of British expatriates have savings in sterling - Telegraph

Dear Mónica - Streetfill sites update 2

Open letter to:

Sra. Mónica Lorente,

La Alcaldesa de Orihuela


Dear Mónica,

As promised I'm keeping you up to date on the success of your 'Streetfill' sites policy.

Unfortunately there is some bad news to report but I will cheer you up with some good and very good news.

The bad news is that, as you can see on the left, someone has stolen some of the rubbish being stored in Calle Tiberiades. You can see how it looked before in my 'Streetfill sites update 1' letter to the right. I haven't been able to investigate this fully but I suspect it may have been an incompetent council worker who failed to carry out your policy instructions correctly and collected the rubbish. I'm sure you can find out who the culprit was and discipline the 'person' (note the political correctness of no gender bias) accordingly.

The good news is that the public are really getting involved in the policy as can be seen from the following videos. In the first you can see that the van with the trailer shown in 'Streetfill sites update 1' returns to help you more by dumping a second trailer full. Not content with the good work of adding to the pile he decides to tidy it up for you using the trailer as a plough. In the second clip you can see that a new 'White van man' or in this case men show their willingness to help your council by dumping two loads of pieces of sawn up palm. It really fills the forgotten space between the existing, proliferating heap and the boundary wall of the adjacent property.



Now for the Very Good News. On your behalf, I'm sorry I didn't ask you first, I decided to test your council system of carrying out your 'Streetfill' policy. I suggested to the Town Hall in Orihuela Costa by email that the pile of rubbish at the corner of Calles Ontario and Baikal might be getting a little larger than you would like. As you can see from the photograph below, taken today, they did not fall for my ploy. The gigantic pile remains intact. The cleaning company has not attempted to clear it. If I may suggest, perhaps the council should consider making an 'ex gratia' loyalty bonus payment to the management of the cleaning contractor.

I will strive to keep you informed of future developments of the larger 'Streetfill' rubbish sites as I become aware of them. Perhaps, after visiting my weblog and reading my letters to you, your fervent United Kingdom expatriate followers in Orihuela Costa will wish to assist me, as a sign of their appreciation of the level of services you and your Council provide to the residents of the coastal area.

Your enlightened resident and voter.

P.S. Don't forget when you visit for your 'Streetfill' press conference that you remember health and safety rules and wear your 'hard hat'. I suggest the white one as it suits you better. It reminds me of a halo.

Tesco to introduce Shopping Proficiency test for the elderly

The News Biscuit website reports that supermarket giant Tesco have announced that they are only to allow pensioners to shop at peak times once they have proved their ability to negotiate its stores without irritating the hell out of other shoppers.

I'm sure I will earn my 'Pensioner Plus' proficiency card when I'm older. I think. Will they automatically upgrade it to use a mobility scooter in the store when the time comes or will this be another test to pass. Will it be a free test? If not, for old couples will it be bogof?

Read the full article: Tesco to introduce Shopping Proficiency test for the elderly | NewsBiscuit

Dear Mónica - Streetfill sites update 1

Open letter to:

Sra. Mónica Lorente,
La Alcaldesa de Orihuela

Dear Mónica,

Further to my previous salutation on the 10th October, just a quick note to give you a positive update that the 'Streetfill' policy is working better at this stage than the Council could have hoped for. My estimation is that you are probably ahead of your target volumes of rubbish to be stored in the roads.

C/ Baikal

 I mentioned in my previous letter to you of three possible sites for a press conference to promote this policy and here are photos of the three suggested finalists
.

C/ Tiberides

 My favourite location is still the corner of Calles Ontario and Baikal as the pile of rubbish is now progressing to an acceptable size, although probably still a little smaller than you might consider acceptable. If this is the case just let me know. I believe that I will not have any difficulty, with the help of your admiring supporters in Orihuela Costa, in finding alternative overflowing 'Streetfill' sites.

C/ Ontario

However you can see from the video below that the more environmentally aware public are behind you on this policy and are trying to build this pile as fast as they can for you. It confirms the Council's obvious successful theory that rubbish left lying will attract more of the same. I wish I had thought of this.



As you can see there was a slight traffic congestion problem and I would therefore suggest that perhaps as Orihuela Costa has a surplus of Policia Local, because of your excellent control of their manning levels, that a couple of them could operate a traffic control one way flow system to this site.

I think the additional decision by the council's cleaning contractors  not to empty the grey household food waste rubbish containers for at least 3 days is a stroke of genius. As you can see from the photograph below it not only speeds up the filling of the empty spaces on the street but it also makes it easier for the rats, cats and dogs to scavenge the plastic bags for food. This shows a caring attitude towards animals by your Council.

I hope to keep you up to date with your council's successes on the Coast.

Your enlightened resident and voter.

P.S. I've noted from your many reported Mayoral appearances that you like to stand out from the crowd of your minions, with your choice of distinctive fashions. May I advise you, when carrying out the suggested press conference, not to wear anything green or with an irregular pattern as you will blend in too much with the chosen backdrop pile of rubbish as it will probably have grown to be taller than you.

Orihuela Town Council's 'Streetfill' Site Policy - Letter to the Mayoress

Open letter to:

Sra. Mónica Lorente,
La Alcaldesa de Orihuela


Dear Mónica,

Ref: Town Council 'Streetfill' Site Policy

First of all let me say that I hope you do not mind me; a mere tax paying, revenue generating, United Kingdom expatriate resident of Orihuela Costa; addressing you; a Goddess amongst your fellow PP councillors and supporters; in such an informal way.

I write to congratulate you on your Council's continual and increasing use of your cost saving 'Streetfill' policy for rubbish produced by both households and businesses in the Orihuela Costa part of the municipality. It is imperative in these difficult economic times that on behalf of the tax payers of the municipality that you do not squander the funds received. I, and the majority of residents I'm sure, appreciate that the cost of the collection of rubbish and its transport to registered, and more probably illegal, landfill sites is expensive for the Council. In addition there are the uncontrolled payments to the contractor, deemed to be the best responsible company, for providing the supposedly first class cleaning service to the municipality.

Certainly within Orihuela Costa we (the inhabitants) have experienced over a considerable time the excellent policy, of your Council, of allowing rubbish tippers to use undeveloped land within the area as landfill sites. All the residents appreciate that this is a cost saving policy for the Council as it saves the need to provide costly household and building rubbish handling facilities. Well done for your foresight on this.

I appreciate that as the major parts of the under-developed areas of land within the coastal area become full of rubbish, alternative capacity is needed. I understand therefore the need for the Council to leave more rubbish in the streets and roads amongst our homes, to adopt an even more positive policy of 'Streetfill' rubbish management. Not only is it a cost saving exercise but it uses what would otherwise be under-utilisation of public space resources. It is clever of you to realise that there would be less need for refuse collection lorries, less labour needed to man these vehicles, possibility of redundancies, no need to build recycling facilities as the rubbish can decompose in the streets, no need to fund more landfill sites.

It is important that you see evidence of the successful operation of your 'Streetfill' site policy so I invite you view the attached video of just one of the multitude of locations being used to reach your objective. This is at the junction of Calles Ontario and Baikal. There are two more similar sites within 100 metres. Perhaps you might consider using one of these three as a site for a press conference to announce the success of your 'Streetfill' rubbish management policy.

Your enlightened resident and voter.

P.S. The cleaning contract staff have obviously been made aware of 'Streetfill' as when they pass a rubbish pile they stop to admire it and then drive on.

P.P.S. Knowing of your Council's attitude towards protection of the environment, in particular the flora and fauna, I will assume the responsibility of letting you know when the indigenous rats and snakes make the rubbish piles their new homes.

Spanish property still over valued by 17%

Three years after the outbreak of the financial and economic crisis, Spain is one of the countries of the European Union where, the price of housing is still overvalued by about 17% compared to the 3% average in the Euro-zone; according to the quarterly report published by the European Commission about the Euro-zone. It says Spain is still far from completing the adjustment of prices in the construction industry needed to consolidate the recovery.

The housing bubble continues in Spain despite having experienced the second largest drop in home prices in the Euro area (-18%) from the peak reached in 2007. Only Ireland exceeded this, where the price has plummeted by 37% while lowering the Euro-zone average at 8.3%.

The Brussels study shows that, in late 2008, housing prices in Spain were still overvalued by 24%, the highest percentage in the EU. Whilst the United Kingdom was at 18%.

In the case of Ireland, it had already done most of the adjustment of property (and prices were only 3% above its equilibrium level), while in Italy and France the over valuation was moderate (8% and 9% respectively). Germany and the Netherlands were the only countries in the eurozone without a bubble. In the U.S., housing was overvalued by 15%.

Throughout 2009, the adjustment of housing prices in Spain was just seven points, so that by the end of the year still recorded a "significant over valuation" of 17%. In contrast, other member states like France and Italy "probably reached a price level nearly balanced in the third quarter of 2009, while prices in Ireland continued to fall even below the equilibrium level.

The EU executive's report concludes that, on average, most of the gap in housing prices in the Euro area has already been corrected.

However, the Commission warns that this average "masks important differences between member states. "In late 2009, the correction of housing prices was well under way in some, but still had some way to go in others," in reference to members such as Spain. "In addition, a few Member States, notably Germany, have now undervalued home prices," it says.

Europa Press

Doctors and nurses launch campaign for right to help terminally ill to end their lives

Healthcare Professionals for Change, a group of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, says it wants to challenge bodies such as the British Medical Association, which opposes any change in the law that would allow others to help terminally ill people to die.

The group is the first professional body of its kind to be set up with the explicit aim of changing the 1961 Suicide Act, which forbids such assistance.

I believe this is another step in the right direction.

Read more detail.

I'm annoyed I spelt it anoid.

I wish Facebook, Twitter and such like had a spell checker built in, and I could get the Blogger one to work, then I wouldn't make such howling spelling errors! I'm not dyslexic (spell checked) ..... I'm just rubbish at spelling.

The other day I posted a comment on Facebook and spelt 'annoyed' as 'anoid'.

Now I could say that it was because my typing is poor, or that my brain is working so much faster than my fingers, but neither reason would be true.

I'm not paranoid about it, it's just a factoid that where spelling is concerned my head is devoid of the rules of grammar for correct spellings. I'm not an android with a built in spell checker so what I need is an online facility to avoid further errors. There are a least 312 words that end 'oid' so its an easy mistake to make. Well for me it is.

Why can't all words be spelt phonetically (Spell checked)? It would be so much easier.

However as there is the theory that as long as the first and last letter are correct then the reader will understand what has been written incorrectly...... that lets me off. Its my own form of creative writing.

Pensioner transports carpet on mobility scooter

Earlier this year in March and April I wrote about problems with the miss use of Electric Mobility Scooters by the ownners on public pavements and highways.

Today the Daily Telegraph published an article about an elderly owner of a mobility scooter who stupidly chose to use his scooter to transport a wide roll of carpet whilst driving along the public highway.

In a 39-second clip recorded by an incredulous road user, the man can be seen wobbling along a road in Wincanton, Somerset, at speeds of up to 8mph.

The degree of this mans stupidity is unbelievable. This clearly shows the need for compulsary training on the use of these mobility scooters, and no one should be allowed to use one in public areas without a certificate of competence being obtained. Public liability insurance must be a requirement for use in public areas, with a certificate being necessary to obtain insurance.

Had this been a motor-cyclist or car owner performing such a stunt this would have been an illegal motoring act.

Parents won't have wealth to pass on,

A report by Absolute Strategy Research on behalf of Janus Capital based on the answers from 6010 Europeans has warned that future generations should not expect to inherite from their parents, to make up for the shortfall in their savings for retirement, as a direct result of the worst financial crisis since the 1930s.

If Mrs S & I have any money left when our time ends to pass on as an inheritance so be it, but that is not our goal, like the 42% of those questioned.

Read further conclusions here: Parents won't have wealth to pass on, report - Telegraph

Pope Ratzinger should not be given the honour of a state visit to the United Kingdom

Many leading Academics and Authors sent the following public letter to the Guardian Newspaper in respect of the papal visit to the UK by Pope Benedict XVI.

"We, the undersigned, share the view that Pope Ratzinger should not be given the honour of a state visit to this country. We believe that the pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of course free to enter and tour our country. However, as well as a religious leader, the pope is a head of state, and the state and organisation of which he is head has been responsible for:

Opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of Aids.

Promoting segregated education.

Denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women.

Opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Failing to address the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation.

The state of which the pope is head has also resisted signing many major human rights treaties and has formed its own treaties ("concordats") with many states which negatively affect the human rights of citizens of those states. In any case, we reject the masquerading of the Holy See as a state and the pope as a head of state as merely a convenient fiction to amplify the international influence of the Vatican".

The letter is signed by the following:

Stephen Fry, Professor Richard Dawkins, Professor Susan Blackmore, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, Ed Byrne, Baroness Blackstone, Ken Follett, Professor AC Grayling, Stewart Lee, Baroness Massey, Claire Rayner, Adele Anderson, John Austin MP, Lord Avebury, Sian Berry, Professor Simon Blackburn, Sir David Blatherwick, Sir Tom Blundell, Dr Helena Cronin, Dylan Evans, Hermione Eyre, Lord Foulkes, Professor Chris French, Natalie Haynes, Johann Hari, Jon Holmes, Lord Hughes, Robin Ince, Dr Michael Irwin, Professor Steve Jones, Sir Harold Kroto, Professor John Lee, Zoe Margolis, Jonathan Meades, Sir Jonathan Miller, Diane Munday, Maryam Namazie, David Nobbs, Professor Richard Norman, Lord O'Neill, Simon Price, Paul Rose, Martin Rowson, Michael Rubenstein, Joan Smith, Dr Harry Stopes-Roe, Professor Raymond Tallis, Lord Taverne, Peter Tatchell, Baroness Turner, Professor Lord Wedderburn of Charlton QC FBA, Ann Marie Waters, Professor Wolpert, Jane Wynne Willson.

I congratulate them on their action, endorse their views and add my post script signature to the letter.

Spanish study finds that 10 minutes could prevent one-third of road deaths,

Spanish researchers have calculated the probability of dying in road accidents on the basis of the time taken for the emergency services to arrive.

Their conclusions are clear: reducing the time between an accident taking place and the arrival of the emergency services from 25 to 15 minutes would cut the risk of death by one-third.

It is alarming after the week-ends to read the reports of the high number of deaths on the Spainish roads. A major factor has to be the disregard that many Spainish drivers have for speed limits. So many seem to think that the speed shown on the road signs is the minimum that they should drive!

Read further details here: ScienceDaily (2010-09-13) --Ten minutes could prevent one-third of road deaths, Spanish study finds

La Pinada Fiesta 2010 - Very Enjoyable

Each year the La Pinada community of property owners holds its own mini fiesta. Its held not for any other reason, non-religious, non-political, than for the residents of the community to get together for an enjoyable time.

This year for the first time the La Pinada social committee decided to invite residents of our community, Residencial Mexico, as we are next door neighbours so to speak, and only a small community, to join in their festivities. A True community spirit.

As Chairman of our little community I forwarded the invite to all members of Res. Mexico who are resident in Spain. Unfortunately only 4 wanted to take up the invite.

The Fiesta was held yesterday (11th September) from 5.30pm until 11.00pm, and the four of us that attended from Mexico had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The event was well organised and the social committee should be proud of their efforts.

It was a good street party. Plenty of food, drinks and entertainment. People enjoying themselves.

Here is a little video from our evening.

Restaurant Owner who banned screaming children says business is booming

The Mail Online reports that a North Carolina restaurant has put a ban on unruly children, with a sign on the front door saying screaming children will not be tolerated. Brenda Armes, the owner of the Olde Salty's restaurant in Carolina Beach, said she got sick of customers complaining about parents who couldn't control their children during meals. She said many parents allowed their children to treat the restaurant like their personal playground, misbehaving and 'squawking'.

I say well done to Brenda, we (Mrs S & I) hate it when we are in a restaurant and are subjected the nuisance of screaming children when we are trying to eat a meal we are paying for. We go to eat in peace not to be in a noisy kindergarten. What even more aggrevates the situation is that the parents of the monsters ignore the bad behaviour.

I hope that restaurant owners in the UK and Spain follow Brenda's example.

Read the full article in Mail Online: Restaurant that has banned screaming children says business is better than ever

Is hand washing enough to stop the spread of disease?

Not drying your hands thoroughly after washing them, could increase the spread of bacteria and rubbing your hands whilst using a conventional electric hand dryer could be a contributing factor. Frequently people give up drying their hands and wipe them on their clothes instead, but hand-hygiene is a key part of infection control and drying hands after washing is a very important part of the process. A new study looks at different methods of hand drying, and their effect on transfer of bacteria from the hands to other surfaces.

The new type of hand dryer, I think they're made by Dyson, are the most effective automatic drying machines but if you wear rings that are slightly too big the air blast can strip them off your fingers.

I find it amazing the number of men, can't speak for women, who use public toilet facilties and don't wash their hands afterwards!

Read the Science Daily article:Is hand washing enough to stop the spread of disease?