Januaries past


2008

Do you remember when the Spanish national anthem almost got lyrics?
2009

An atheist advertisement caused controversy.
City centre signs discouraged anti-social behaviour.
Spanish nuns joined You Tube to find new recruits.

2010

Some amusing announcements from pilots and flight attendants.
Apparently, Scots drink the equivalent of 46 bottles of vodka a year.
A man was fined for blowing his nose while driving.

Use the Blog Archive to find other posts.

Comments

José said…
Hi Graham, (Nuns on the net)

It has been impossible to find the source of this post in the Guardian, but it’s not necessary because with your summary I can see this situation very clear. Everyone changes with time and I can’t believe that there are nuns recruited in a convent in twentyonest century. We must respect everyone, but with due respect I feel pity. Everyone can do that he wants because he is free, but I think that they would live so much better out the convent. Also, society needs them working and participating with rest people.

I suppose that it must be tough to them look as though they would have make a mistake, because the number of the nuns dwindles non stop. It would be all the better to leave the grilles. If nobody recruits to the convent, you have to think that something is wrong. ¿What’s the matter?

See you.
Graham said…
Hi José,

Remember that in the older posts you need to click on the main titles to read the full text.

I can understand why some people choose to cut themselves off from this world.



It has been impossible to find the source of this post in the Guardian, but it’s not necessary because with your summary I can see this situation very clearly. Everyone changes with time and I can’t believe that nuns are recruited to a convent in the twenty-first century. We must respect everyone, but with due respect I pity them. Everyone can do what he wants because he is free, but I think that they would live so much better out of the convent. Also, society needs them working and participating with other people.

I suppose that it must be tough for them to look as though they had made a mistake, because the number of the nuns doesn't stop dwindling. It would be all the better to leave the grilles. If nobody is recruited to the convent, you have to think that something is wrong. What’s the matter?
José said…


Hi Graham,

No pavement pizza! No Aggro. No Effin. Don’t Pee Anti-Social. No poop. Don’t swear. Don’t spit. No litter dropping. The rules would be enforced by police and council officers with whom Councillor Kate Calder said that they wanted to put a stop to anti-social behaviour and Mr. Stuart about Preston in England said: “You take pride in our city”. This is curious.
Bur the most important thing of this post are your questions:
Do you think that these signs are a good idea? Yes, I think so, they are a good idea, apart from swearing because I have to make a sacrifice to change my way of being.
Do you think they will work? I think so. In my opinion, only with trying it’s a success already.
Would they work in Madrid? It depends on who stablishes the rules of behaviour and how they stablish them.
What’s your opinion on swearing? I don’t agree. It’s very difficult for me to avoid swearing sometime.
Do you think that people swear too much? I think so. Swearing is common in all countries and it doesn’t harm to nobody. In my opinion, our behaviour must be based on respecting everyone.

See you.


José said…


Hi Graham,

“There’s probably no God”

Richard Dawking is atheist as well as an important scientist. I read about him and I agree with his thoughts, up to the point that I quote him in my book. If people advertise that Got exists, why can’t people advertise that God doesn’t exist? Everyone has the right to show his opinions with freedom. I respect Mr. Dawking personally.
These controversial ads will soon be in Madrid. They are already seen around Barcelona. What is your opinion on them? I’m okay. I hope the Inquisition doesn’t come back. I hope everyone can show his ideas anywhere and somebody never feels discrimination because of his thoughts.
Do you think should be allowed? Absolutely not. It would be very sad. We mustn’t be afraid of culture and truth.
Do you agree with the bus driver? I agree with the statement of the company: “As a company we understand Mr Heatrher’s views regarding the atheist bus advert and we are doing what we can to accommodate his request not to drive the buses concerned”. I understand this bus driver but his problem is nothing to see with the atheist advert bus.
Can you think of any other ads that were controversial for some reason? I remember when the Government banned to smoke in Spain, it was advert before and after his approbation a lot of people complained and broke banners. Now we are delighted.

See you.


Graham said…
Hi José,

I hope you have recovered from your Persian experience. LOL

I am guilty of a few of these offences. I am sure you can imagine which ones.

I don't think these signs would make much difference in Spain. In fact, it might make the problem even worse. Take the signs reminding people to use bins and to pick up dog mess. I don't see any improvement in the situation at all.

I never used to swear much. Even now, I guess I don't swear as much as the average Spaniard. It still amuses me to hear old señoras use bad language.



... The rules would be enforced by police and council officers with whom Councillor Kate Calder said that they wanted to put a stop to anti-social behaviour and Mr. Stuart from Preston in England said to take pride in the city. This is curious.

But the most important thing about this post is your questions:

Do you think they will work? I think so. In my opinion, just by trying, it’s been a success already.

Would they work in Madrid? It depends on who establishes the rules of behaviour and how they establish them.

What’s your opinion on swearing? I don’t agree. It’s very difficult for me to avoid swearing sometimes

Do you think that people swear too much? I think so. Swearing is common in every country and it doesn’t harm anybody. In my opinion, our behaviour must be based on respecting everyone.

Graham said…
Hi José,

I don't suppose the bus driver ever imagined his religious beliefs would give him any dilemmas while at work. Would his employer accomodate the views of an atheist with a bus promoting God?

Mind you, I would refuse to drive a bus that promoted bullfighting. I imagine my Spanish employers would sack me.

In the UK there have been court cases related to religious beliefs. There was a case of Bed and Breakfast owners who didn't allow a gay couple to stay under their roof and a bakery who wouldn't make the wedding cake for two men.



... Everyone has the right to freely express their opinion. Personally, I respect Mr. Dawking.
... I hope everyone can express their ideas anywhere and so nobody ever feels discrimination because of their thoughts.
Do you think it should be allowed? Absolutely not. It would be very sad. We mustn’t be afraid of culture and truth.
... I understand this bus driver but his problem has nothing to do with the atheist bus advert.
... I remember when the Government banned smoking in Spain. They advertised its introduction and after its prohibition, a lot of people complained and broke the ban. Now we are delighted.


I suppose you have listened to Richard Dawkins on Ted Talks:
https://www.ted.com/speakers/richard_dawkins
José said…
Hi Graham,

It is said that Persians were so tolerant about religion and customs. They respected other people. ¡Amazing phenomena! Do you have any idea where somebody is that respects the rest nowadays? LOL
Do you remember that in ancient Persia there were “Satraps” (governors) and if people were not agreed with the Satrap, he was punished by the king. Do you think this would be interesting to Spain?
You would be mayor in Madrid because the situation is the same. In my opinion, we have not improved and you have to go through Madrid’s street jumping among people.
I think in the UK and others countries, people have change their behaviour and they respect more than before. People need to learn and forget custom from the past. These cases about a gay couple don’t spend now, at least in Spain, I think it’s not frequently but it’s possible that isolated case could happen here and in other places.
Mind you, I will make effort to respect people and people respect the rest. Also, I’m going to look into if King Jerjes was tolerant indeed.
See you.
Graham said…
Hi José,

We should have asked Mr. Kabab about the history of Persia :-)

It is said that Persians were so tolerant about religion and customs. They respected other people. (What an) amazing phenomena! Can you think of a place where people respect others nowadays? LOL
Do you know that in ancient Persia there were “Satraps” (governors) and if people did not agree with the Satrap, he was punished by the king. Do you think this would be of interest to Spain?

You would be mayor in Madrid because the situation is the same. (Don't understand what you mean here) In my opinion, we have not improved and you have to go through Madrid’s streets jumping out the way of people.

I think in the UK and other countries, people have changed their behaviour and they respect each other more than before. People need to learn and forget customs from the past.

These cases about a gay couple don’t spend now (spend?), at least in Spain, I think it doesn't happen often but it’s possible that an isolated case could happen here and in other places.

Mind you, I will make an effort to respect people and people respect others. Also, I’m going to look into if King Jerjes was tolerant indeed.