BoT - Backup

  The last few weeks have been interesting, with the floods in Valencia (the regional president still hasn’t quit after 220 deaths through his inattention), the woeful attacks against the government by the PP leader Núñez Feijóo, and of course the disappointing results in the American elections of November 5th. I am currently in the USA, enjoying a visit there and staying with two of my kids. The news here tends towards the parochial (bibles in the state classrooms kind of stuff – yes, I’m in the Midwest) and, frankly, if it wasn’t for the Internet… I would still be thinking that the world is flat (along with many millions of co-believers). Part of the future team enjoying burgers on Trump's aircraft As far as Trump goes, we will only know how bad things are going to become once he is sworn in on January 20th, and I am sure it is going to be terrible – whether thanks to an alarmingly ancient president with signs of dementia, or through his choices of a new department to eradica...

Right now, on Friday afternoon, the TV is warning people not to use the roads in Huelva, Cádiz and Seville because of the fierce rains there. It also warns of looting. Over in Mallorca, too, there are reports of major flooding. Previously, as we know, the terrible storms had assailed Valencia last Tuesday, with a reported 205 dead (so far). Sad to say, the warnings had arrived late and the regional government carries the blame. The Guardian quoting a local resident of Paiporta where 62 died: 'it was a trap'. 'Timely advice would have doubtlessly saved many lives' says a climatologist. 'I got a warning on my mobile-phone while I was seated in my car, with the water already up to my neck' says a motorist.  The AEMAT official weather agency had previously given the warnings, but the President of the Valencian region Carlos Mazón had failed to issue the appropriate order - leading understandably to security issues and political fallout.  Pedro Sánchez ha...