What happens in Iraq?

Most of us have heard something about Iraq. I remember the Gulf War Gulf War, when I was studying at school. I think it was the first time I heard something about this country that, in the years after, I have always associated with wars and victims. In 2003 we had the Invasion of Iraq Invasion of Iraq, with our Prime Minister José Maria Aznar playing soldiers with George Bush. Gradually, Saddam Hussein Sadam Husein, one of the last dictators on earth, was killed.

With Saddam gone, Iraq left the first pages of the newspapers and the television. However, it continued being a very important country because of its oil potential. The first countries in the world were interested in having control over it to take their own benefit, but it looks as they if they could not care the less for the Iraqis.

The dictator passed away and it looked like everybody forgot what happened there. Nearly every day there were people killed. And not one person; hundreds of them. However it seemed that the western countries were not interested as before. Maybe Sadam wasn’t there anymore, but that country still had a problem.

Today in Iraq they are celebrating their first parliamentary elections without the United States army. Yesterday there was another terrible attack that killed 80 people. 80 people! One of the worst things in journalism are numbers. Do we know what 80 people mean? All the families destroyed, friends... I imagine a lot of people don’t know any of the two news when before we read or listened thinks about Iraq every day.

Western countries focused, for a long time, their eyes on Iraq. Sadam was a problem and they got rid of him. However, Iraq is a country with a lot of problems yet to be solved and it looks like it doesn’t have any interest for us. I know there are a lot of conflicts, wars around the world and we don’t get any information about them in the papers or the news, but I think sometimes we should think about it and try to keep the memory of those people alive. It looks like when you get tired of a toy and you throw it away. It is not fair!

I am sure that a lot of people will get killed in Iraq in the next months. The elections are a problem, because there a lot of different ethnic groups in the same country and that means that Iraq will continue having problems. I thing that western countries have the obligation of helping to build a better country, because, in a way, a lot of the problems are our fault and that we can’t not forget what happens there every day.

Hooligans or supporters?

Journalists must use the language correctly. A lot of people repeat what they hear, watch or read in the newspapers and if the information or the words are not the right, is when mistakes appear.

During a long time, here both in the Catalan and Spanish press they use to call hooligans to all the British supports. Maybe it is because my mother is English that annoyed me a lot. Of course you can find hooligans in England and there are well known because of the trouble they have created in some trips with their teams or the national team, but not all the supporters are hooligans. Here in Spain we had a lot of groups that went to the matches to cause trouble. In past years, a lot of them have disappeared but we also had our problems with big fights and people that even got killed.

The other day, watching the match between Atlético de Madrid and Chelsea, I saw a lot of families in the stands of the stadium. Honestly, I doubt that a ten year old boy is a hooligan or his parents. Obviously, I know that there are hooligans that can’t go out of their country and the Police are after them, but as I said, not all of the supporters are like that. However, I have to admit that in the past years this word is used more accurately and most of the journalist referred to them as supporters.

But one thing journalists can’t avoid talking is about the supporters and the beers. The other day, in one of the main radio stations in Spain, a journalist said that the streets of Madrid were full of Chelsea supporters with their beer in their hands AS if the English supporters are the only ones who drink. It is true that sometimes they get carried away but thery are not the only ones.

Last week R. Madrid and Barcelona played the Spanish Cup final and I saw a lot of photographs and TV shots were I could see supporters of the two teams with beers in their hands. I am sure that more than one of them arrived completely drunk to the match. I have been to three finals myself and in all of them I have seen how the supporters drink since first thing in the morning.

As I wrote at the beginning journalists have to be very careful. They generate some topics that can create mistakes. Of course British supporters drink, but also the supporters of any team, specially, in an important game for them. I am not saying that it is right, what I want to point out is that it is something normal in football.

Please, we want cheaper tickets

A few days ago, many of the Spanish’s cinemas celebrated la Fiesta del Cine. During three days, the spectators could watch any film for only 2,90 €, instead of the nearly 10 €  that you have to pay normally. To take benefit of this initiative is very easy: you must visit their website, get a credential and show it when you go the cinema. During those three days, many of the cinemas decide to join this offer, because they know that thousands of people will go.

This time I couldn’t go because of work, but I did go in October. A friend told me about this option and I went with my wife and two friends. It was a Monday and I remember that we had to queue up about 45 minutes. Once we go out of the cinema, the queue was terrible and, probably, most of the people didn’t get in.

On previous days, la ‘Fiesta del Cine’ did a good promotion on Twitter and they created a lot of interest. I think everybody was aware about this initiative and whoever has been, knows that it is a great opportunity to watch films at an incredible price.

  

Once the ‘Fiesta del Cine’ was over, I heard one of the people in charge said that it was a real hit and that a lot of spectators had gone to the cinema during the three days. Then is when I thought: “Of course a lot of people went, for that prize people don’t mind paying”.

I know I don’t have all the information and I imagine that the maintenance of a cinema it is not cheap. I understand you have to pay the workers and a lot of thing I can not even think of. However, I also know that a lot of people don’t go to the cinema because they are not going to pay nearly 10 € for their ticket. For a couple, it is 20 €, and if you have children even more. Obviously, if you buy popcorn, chocolates or sweets, the price increases a lot.

What I do know, is that people expend their money when they think is worth it. What happens if you pay the 10 euros and the film is rubbish? Next time, you will think about t. As I wrote before, I know I don’t have all the elements to judge, but I can assure a few things. The cinemas have more people when the tickets are cheaper, of course they don’t collect the same amount of money for one ticket but maybe they don’t lose as much as they would have thought of.

I think this is the third time this initiative has gone on. More than 2 million people went to the cinema during those three days. I am tired of seeing offers in Atrapalo, Lets Bonus, Offerum and others with tickets at half prize. A lot of cinemas have two days of the spectator and the ticket is a lot cheaper. I can understand that the tickets on the weekend are more expensive, but I think it is an error that there are so expensive. A lot of people don’t go to the cinema because of the price they have to pay. In the other hand, the cinemas are full when the ticket is cheap. Why not decrease the price of the tickets? Everybody will be happy about it.

Sant Jordi

Today, in Catalonia, we celebrate one of the nicest days of the year:  Sant Jordi (Saint George). Men buy roses –normally one- to their wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends any woman they want and women buy books to their husbands, parents, brothers, sons boy friends... In every citie and village of Catalonia, you can find thousands of stands were they sell roses and books. Best Sellers of the moment, and not so good, go all around dedicating their books to their fans. And of course, there are a lot of people that buy books for their own; it is a very nice tradition.

 

The streets are full and it is difficult to walk around, but it is really nice. I know some of you will think that is a bit boring to walk around the main streets because there are a lot of people, but I think it is a day you cannot miss if you live in Barcelona or if you ever travel here. Here, in Barcelona, the streets are packed since the beginning of the day and you can see love flying in the air. It is very nice when you see a couple walking through the streets and enjoying so much this day. I strongly recommend  you to experience Sant Jordi here.

 

Every year you find more people selling roses in the streets. Today I want to point out three things that have called my attention: even the Chinese from the bazaars are selling roses. They are always ready to make profitable business; they don’t let pass an opportunity. The other two are stands I have seen running. I never go out with money in my pockets when I run, but if I had today, I have to admit that I would have bought one in this stand, because I have found it funny. One of them offered a discount to bikers and runners and the other was offering a piece of cake if you bought a flower.

 

Just one thing before I finish: I know it is very nice to buy roses and books in a special day like this one, but every day of the year is good to buy flowers and books for other person or for yourself. Don’t forget to make happy the people that are around you! Flowers are one of the nicest gifts you can do to any woman.