Sorry, Nicole...until they beef up security on this site, all posts are allowed...

CaliBasco

As I don't speak Spanish I put my AltaVista tranlator to work on the El Pais link, and was intrigued by the following -

Someone called "Alvarez of the apple tree"

and

"the case of the crazy cows or the syndrome of the Balkan Mountains"

Mysterious.

Just so I don't get told off for digressing by MM, I love churros and chocolate!


[This message has been edited by Jo-Anne (edited 01-24-2001).]

OK! That's It. You're ALL on detention! (hehehe...) Okay, I can see the connection of Mad Cow's Disease from the originaly posting, but come on! (You're excused from the "punishment", Jo-Anne) Hahahaa...!!! AND SINCE we're going off topic, I JUST got finished with the NEW MadridMan's Madrid Video and there's a shot of (now....back on topic) the Chocolateria San Gines! I remember going there at 4am after dancing at Palacio Gaviria and the place was SO stuffed full of people we were turned away UNfulfilled with those delicous churros and chocolate. Mmmmm... Luckily, ANTONIO invited me to a great place near Hostal Chelo the (late) night after the "Party With MadridMan: Version 2.0" when I stayed at his family's hostel.

"The case of the crazy cows or the syndrome of the Balkan Mountains." Hahahahaa!!!

Saludos, MadridMan

Okay CaliBasco - put that tremendous wit to work reference "The case of the crazy cows or the syndrome of the Balkan Mountains". My Spanish is far from good - so someone, please fill both Jo-Ann and me in on what the above really means!

Translators are fun! I just had to see it for myself. Combining two lines from the article we get: Although the debate of the day was the one of the crazy cows, the subject of the incineration brought tail.

Puna- Though the reference to the Balkans is obscure, and although I'm never one to "hide" from a good pun-a, I feel that additional humoristic references to such a tragedy would be absolutely Bulgar and would only Serb to trivialize the situation.

OK- en serio:

In a nutshell, the PSOE (socialists ousted after about 16 years of control) are blaming the Partido Popular (conservatives in power since the last election) for the mad cow situation. The PP has pointed out, however, that it was the PSOE that was in power in '94 and '96 when the first cases of vaca loca were reported in Spain.

The PP goes on the attack as well to say that PSOE relaxed norms and laws and 'allowed' this sort of importation of sick cows and bad feed to happen.

The PP is saying that the PSOE is just using this as a way to undermine the PP government, and that it's false. The portavoz (spokesperson) for PP, Arenas, says that this sort of behavior by the PSOE will most likely cost them dearly at the polls during the next election. Anyway, that's the main idea. Bored yet?

Since I am already in detention anyway for breaking the thread, Calibasco, I have to ask you: have you read Guillermo Cabrera Infante's Tres Tristes Tigres? If not, I think you'd love its bilingual punning. I always laugh (or wince) at your posts, no matter how much Nicole protests (she loves it too in secret!!). Calibaco-loco eres tu.

CaliBasco - it's the Balkans reference that escapes me .... with humor/wit/pun or serious levity ... fill in the blank for me please

I would second Tres Tristes Tigres. It's an incredible book, it transported me to the Cuban nightlife of the 50's for the couple of weeks I was reading it.