I’m not one to take other people’s work and post it without asking for permission, but it just so happens that the Spanish judicial system, the law, and some Catholic group have managed to get a conviction of ‘injury against religious feelings’ against Mr Krahe for a short film which happens to be over 30 years old. I don’t find it acceptable and I cannot stand by and do nothing ( I know, I am doing next to nothing but still, it’s on the better side of nothing).

What kind of law protects ‘religious feelings’ anyway? Maybe we should have laws to protect ‘ideological feelings’ or ‘confused feelings’ for those like me. Jesus Christ, give me a break.

(space)

“As a man, if pushed into choosing between ‘space’ and ‘time’, space would doubtlessly trump time.”

That is what was said.

The explicit passage of units of time gets ignored. Days, months and years blur into undefined, often repetitive, sequences of events. Some people like to call them life.

Much maligned as it may be, Time is not the culprit of life’s ups and downs. You may instead turn and point an accusing finger at that (much cherished) set of circumstances sometimes known as Space.

“Throughout my life, nothing has changed things more than the all-too-constant changes themselves. The weather, the seasons, environments, cohabiters, I know they have all made me happy and sad, but I don’t know (or care) about when they happened. I just know that it isn’t now.”

Or if it is, it is not what matters.

Where should I start? I suppose that I might as well be up front about the fact that I am an entrenched detractor of any kind of dubbing in films, unless of course, if it is one of those films with talking animals. But why? Well, here go a couple of reasons.

1. The final product is always sickening, maybe not terrible but just plain weird, stylised and false. Just a mere shadow of all the Stanislavskian effort that went into making the original sound right.

2. It never does justice to the quality, sound or ‘feel’ of the original. Really, moving past any personal criticisms of dubbing itself, the process obliterates a crucial dimension of any film: the way it’s characters sound. I’m not just being petty, just try watching poor Russell Crowe playing Maximus in Gladiator, first in English then in Spanish.

3. There is no variety. It seems to me that there are six or seven stock characters that they ‘copy and paste’ onto any and every character that comes along. Not only that, but the voices used don’t appear to have changed whatsoever in the last fifty years. Maybe I’m exaggerating, lets say forty years. Seriously though, the tone, the timbre, the diction, the inflexion, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G is the same, and frankly, that is just not believable.

4. The availability of so many English language films cements the competitive advantage of Hollywood films over those from anywhere else. It is hugely damaging for the Spanish film industry, the Catalan film industry and every other film industry other than the US film industry. If films were shown in their original language, national and ‘international’ (non-US)  films would fare a lot better. This would be a win-win situation for everybody, except Hollywood of course, and it would ensure that the best films rose to the top regardless of language.

5. It encourages cultural isolation and ignorance. True, it is less so a problem in Catalonia than it has been in Spain as a whole, but Catalonia is getting in on the action pretty late in the game. Maybe Catalonia is too small, and inherently outward looking, in the context of our pretty globalised world, to become truly insular and self centred. It is, nonetheless, a bad example to set when it comes to language learning, and to showing an interest for the international and multilingual world. It is also a wasted opportunity from the perspective of helping a society to pick up English and other languages. This is a major problem all over Spain (Catalonia is just as bad in this way), and no opportunities to improve the understanding and use of foreign languages should be passed upon.

mmmm… Well, maybe I could think up more reasons without repeating myself too much, but that’s not why we are here. The point is that, regardless of nationalistic objectives, dubbing films is very damaging if you want your society to be multilingual, open and cultured. Even more importantly though, it means making life much easier for Hollywood films to the detriment of all other national film industries, including Castilian and Catalonian language films. You want proof? Think about this: Many of Spain’s biggest productions have been filmed in English, why? Well, why did Abba sing in English?

…My point is not finished yet. So you want to encourage the use of Catalan in cinemas? Fine, put a limit on the number of dubbed films, tax them higher, give a tax break to subtitled films, whatever, there are many ways you could go about it. Just don’t let me believe that the cursed dubbing industry is having its interests protected even in the midst of a Castilian-Catalonian socio-cultural fracas.

The bus drove back in the dark, the drive was short and unexceptional. Oh wait, there was a little moment of light relief as a young lad hazily stumbled onto the tram, drunk-as-a-newt and almost sat on a tired office worker, apologising with a friendly but unapologetic “oops sorry about that guv.”

A month has gone by and I have slowly got to know more aspects of this sprawling city. I like it. I like the old sunday markets with the clutter and junk, i like the food culture, I like the big immigrant population, I love the sea and I am intrigued by the weird birds and animals. My favourite would be the little penguins if they weren’t so shy, but as it is I’ll have to go for the possums and wild parrots. I also like the insolent looking magpies.

One day we drove out to the country with some friends. It took 40 minutes to get out of the city but it was well worth it. The country is really quite pretty around here, a mixture of fields, vineyards and forest. We had lunch in a vineyard; great food, fantastic views, a worthwhile experience.

Local press and websites suggest that there is a thumping live music scene out there but the truth is that I haven’t experienced it yet. Poverty is keeping me firmly under its thumb and I think I’d better wait till I have a better cash flow before I start to investigate it. I will actually go to some sort of hippy site this weekend, apparently you can get really cheap bikes. I can’t remember what it’s called but it looks really interesting actually, quite big, varied, and interesting, well we’ll see.

I think that it would be a pretty good place to come on holiday btw, lots to do, cheap food and beer, and plenty of attractive people too.

Below is a picture of a swan I met while out in Albert park the other day.

There is nothing like a good crisis to rally support for a leader, and as Barack Obama majestically swept to power, the world got ready to create a political star. The power-glamour and personal dynamism of Obama’s public image led friends and foes alike to announce a ‘new era,’ a chance to solve the problems of the past.

Present global economic woes have stoked up fears, and the young US Administration has found itself pushed further into the limelight. Symbolically and in real-terms, America has been given a chance to redeem itself, but such redemption will involve finding a solution to current economic woes and dealing with the world’s perennial international problems, particularly Iran, Iraq, Israel / Palestine, North Korea and now Pakistan.

Over in Europe, national leaders have been excited about working with a new-look, US government. Gordon Brown, Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, even the ever-delirious Italian Prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, have all made big efforts to capitalize on the new kid on the block’s popularity. Recurrent cynical shows of “Obama-admiration” by politicians trying to ‘keep in tune’ with public opinion, demonstrate just how fashionable the US presidency has suddenly become.

The surprising depth of European support for Obama became obvious when the famously outspoken and controversial Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolane was unreservedly criticized by MEPs. They accused him of using the EU Presidency as a means of attacking US handling of the economic crisis, an action which was, in their view, inappropriate. Much as European politicians may disagree with particular measures, EU leaders know that they have an excellent opportunity to work with the US, and they don’t want to sour the new relationship unnecessarily.

Overtures aimed at those concerned about climate change suggest the US government has developed a newfound concern for the environment. A new approach to green issues, and a change in US attitudes towards the global environmental agenda, may give Obama the credentials needed to negotiate in the future, and soften perceptions worldwide. Groups like Greenpeace are not ready to show excitement about Obama’s electoral win, but they do at least admit that Obama is saying the right things. We will have to wait for the environmentalists’ final verdict, but for now, the President’s green credentials are looking good and that can only benefit him.

On the wider foreign policy issues, Barack Obama’s administration has thrown up challenges for the traditional antagonists who, like soccer players faced with a football, simply don’t know what to make of post-Bush US. Both Cuba and Venezuela are painfully aware that they should not fumble the chance to develop a new, more beneficial relationship with the US. Iran will also have to consider how it will deal with the new president. So far, Iran’s official ‘Islamic Republic News Agency’ has shown itself to be markedly upbeat about the noises coming out of the new US executive, it is still to be seen whether this will translate into a political detente.

The historically tortuous middle east also awaits a leader who can make intentions count, leaders cooperate and peace agreements work. The new Israeli cabinet is unashamedly pursuing an aggressive agenda, French publication L’Express recently reported that Israel had carried out military exercises simulating an attack on Iran. Speculation suggests that Israel wishes to send a message to Iran, a warning rather than an outright declaration of intent. This is not what the US wants from Israel and it will be interesting to see how it responds, presumably any US suggestions will be discreet.

Inside Gaza, Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, assured a New York Times journalist, that Hamas wants to work towards a peace agreement, and announced a temporary ceasefire in rocket attacks. We could speculate as to what Hamas’ motivations might be, indeed we couldn’t be blamed for suspecting that there are ulterior motives behind such a move. The fact is that this conflict has always been complicated and confusing, the US will have to be cautious if it doesn’t want to end up with egg on its face, but it will have to take a stance nonetheless. Success in the Middle East would mean a great boost to the credibility of US foreign policy, it is going to be a tough but essential goal.

Hillary Clinton is doing a great job providing depth to the executive’s image in international dealings. If Clinton is able to handle developments in Pakistan and the middle east, she will do much for her career and the US. Having her on the job also contributes towards making Obama look focused on the ‘home front’ issues, that alone makes her worth her weight in gold.

The Obama administration must keep American society and the international community under the charm of the ‘Obama factor’ if it wants to assure itself success on both fronts. To do this, it will need to bring together conflicting parties and demonstrate an ability to get results, something that the previous US administration is not perceived to have done.  Fortunately this is the time for Obama, the frame is right and the opportunities are there, only time will tell on whether he will succeed in turning one of the lowest moments for the US, into an inflection in American history.

Ok so here it goes.
This recipe is not mine — I found it from a massive stack of cookbooks  lying about the house.
Of course variation is fine too — and that’s what I love to do, improvisation at times

But lets call it… C O N F U S E D   P U M P K I N for when we refer to this dish

i n g r e d i e n t s:
(serve 3-4)
1 small handful of dried porcini mushroom (soaked in boiling water for 5 mins) — I omit this sometimes as they are expensive.
1 butternut pumpkin / squash (halved and seeds removed) – medium size
1 red onion — finely chopped
1 clove of garlic — finely chopped
1 tsp coriander seeds – pounded
a pinch or two of dried chilli or to taste
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary — leaves picked and finely chopped
5 sun-dried tomatoes — chopped roughly
1/2 a handful of pinenuts — lightly toasted –but sometimes I don’t even bother lol
100g or basmati rice or there about…
olive oil
salt + pepper

Now the fun bit…
m a k i n g   i t   h a p p e n:

preheat oven @ 200-230C
Use a spoon to score and scoop out the flesh of the length of the pumpkin to make a pumpkin vessel.
Finely chop the scooped flesh and add to a flying pan with olive oil/onion/garlic/coriander seed/chilli/rosemary/sun-dried tomatoes — fry for 5 mins or till softened
Add porcini & some of its soaking water–cook for further 2 mins then season
Add rice & pinenuts (no need to precook the rice)

Now pack the rice mix into the pumpkin vessels — press them together to make one while pumpkin again — rub the pumpkin skin with olive oil
Wrap it in foil
Bake for a bout 1 -1 1/4 hours

To serve…slice the pumpkin against it’s length and you will have a nice pumpkin ring with rice stuffing
mmmm mmm mmmm

Really you can stuff this with other things…lets your imagination take you

NLS
S.

In the context of the present reform of Spanish abortion law, and in the run up to ‘pro life day’ (Jornada Por la Vida), the catholic church has opened up a new front aimed at its own supporters, possibly in the hope of consolidating and streamlining its line in readiness for a potential mobilisation.

Calling for the protection of the ‘sanctity of the unborn’, the church referred to the ‘indivisible totality’ of which the unborn are part of. Particularly in the light of the ‘incomparable’ dignity of human life, adding that there exists a ‘moral and social permissiveness towards the elimination of the unborn’.

I often wonder whether the church really understands the consequences of illegalising abortion, but then again, this is something which can be said of many groups. However there are greater contradiction that the church must justify to the world.

Many would like to know how the catholic church’s masterplan is supposed to help the millions of unborn children of Africa by virtue of opposing itself to the use of contraceptives. It is not just a matter of not supporting the  HIV limitation exercise going on in the continent they have actually worked against it. It makes me feel that at least in the case of African children there are other priorities.

The same could be said of those children who have fallen prey to sexually deprived and depraved members of the clergy. There have been many reported abuses of trust and power used to satisfy desires, desires and needs the origins of which we can only speculate about.

If only they would understand the need to perform some introspective analysis. For many years now, the catholic church has been digging its heels in about most social changes, even extinguishing movements within itself which have supported a progressive approach to social problems.

I suppose that they are fearful of losing their traditional support base, but that is of course, the curse of all conservatives regardless of ideology or faith. I expect they might have the Spanish conservatives on their side, but if the reform takes place not even the conservatives will change it when in power. The church must know that, and should feel very lonely.

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Which one is more successful?

The Naive Cow looks on at some taxi-cows