She Read Me Like A Book

The victim of the attack that led to the demonstration against violence in Puerto Alcúdia has died. He had been in a coma since the incident nearly three weeks ago that occurred by the Magic roundabout. There's not a lot more to be said. Or rather, there is a load that could be said, and this will doubtless revolve around uncontrolled drinking and violent and disaffected youth. It all sounds vaguely familiar. This can happen anywhere, and has happened here.


The Alcúdia train debate, some might say debacle, goes on. The "mobility" department of the Balearics Government (mobility equates to transport in this sense) has come out in favour of the so-called northern route alongside the main road from Sa Pobla and terminating, in all likelihood, close to the centre of the old town. This is opposed by, among others, Alcúdia town hall, landowners - the ones who staged the recent tractor protest - the highways department at the Mallorca Council and some elements of the environment ministry which say that it will affect certain species. The environmental lobby is generally in favour. A greater number of species, it is said, would be potentially harmed were the southern route - with a terminal by Albufera - adopted. The other option, of siting the line so that it finishes up near the Magic roundabout is one now currying favour within Alcúdia town hall. Yet, this one might be a non-starter owing to the wetlands that exist in the area. Confused? It is.

That was a couple of days ago, and then the environment ministry, which seemed to be in general agreement with the mobility people (save for those voices which were not) came out with a statement that the mobility department was not taking account of the views of the town hall, a point - naturally enough - echoed by the town's mayor. The head of the environment ministry and the mayor are from the UM; the head of the mobility ministry isn't.


The other day was one of those days - a day of. It was the day of the book. The origins of this day are Catalonian. And the original day marked the birth of Miguel de Cervantes. The day was changed to 23 April in 1930 and has since been internationalised. There is a strong book tradition that comes out of Catalonia. Anyone who has ever been to the book market in Barcelona will know this. The day was duly celebrated in, among other places, Alcúdia.

Periodically, the local press reports on the level of book reading in the Balearics. This is not a mere study of how people use their leisure time; it is a cultural issue. And the worry is that reading is in decline. Maybe this is so everywhere. Yet, reassuringly, despite new technologies, the book still holds an important role in our lives, be we Catalan or other nationality. Never let J. K. Rowling be criticised. She has been one of the more significant educative influences in contemporary society; educating the young to want to read.

Though the book day is essentially a Catalan thing, there was an advert for the day in the "Ultima Hora" newspaper, which is published mainly but not exclusively in Castilian; there are also contributions in Catalan. The advert was from the department store El Corte Inglés. It announced book signings. All the authors and titles listed were Catalan, but otherwise the advert was in Castilian. How strange.


QUIZ
Yesterday's title - "Boys From The Black Stuff". Bernard Hill (Yosser). (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmu3Rn6Vp_s). By the way, don't be fooled by the strange intro from Top Of The Pops. Today's title - a line from? Mandy.

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