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Spanish News

• Snow brings Barcelona to a complete collapse
  Highly unusual and extremely intense snowfall provoked a huge chaos in Barcelona on Monday as streets throughout the Catalan capital were covered in thick snow. Since midday, the city of Barcelona received the biggest snowfall since 1962, which resulted in the public bus transport system to shutdown. The public metro transport system remains open, nevertheless [...]
  Maria Sullivan
• DGT hiding the real truth of accident numbers
  Just like in the world of Houdini’s illusions, not all is what it might seem in the ever popular world of statistics manipulation and ‘spin’, as has been pointed out by Spain’s motorist advocacy organization ‘Dvuelta’. They have announced their “astonishment” by recent statements by the Director General de Tráfico, Pere Navarro, who said that [...]
  Keith Nicol
• New study on Public Transport could save more than two million euros per year
  Last year, a study into the transportation infrastructure around Torrevieja started and when the downtown street systems are reopened and traffic can flow again, some changes can be expected in traffic flow around the city. Following on from this a further 95,000 euros has been granted by to restructure Public Transport around the city. Torrevieja’s Councillor [...]
  Keith Nicol
• Tsunami wave hits cruise ship off Barcelona coast
  A massive 8 meters high wave smashed into a cruise ship carrying nearly 2,000 people Wednesday, leaving two passengers dead and six injured according to Spanish maritime rescue services. The Louis Majesty was on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise when it was struck by the monster wave. The ship docked in Barcelona late wednesday night. The company, in [...]
  Ana Pozuelo
• Ten Million Euros for Torrevieja’s streets
  Sometimes there seems to be no end to the amount of money that is spent on improvements to the city of Torrevieja. With the main downtown area to be pronounced finished by the start of the Easter Processions, there was more good news regarding planned improvements to the city as this week the mayor of [...]
  Keith Nicol
• Torrevieja’s Skyscrapers given their first green light
  For the last three months, a group of overseas investment companies have been lobbying Torrevieja’s Town Hall for more information about the proposed building sites for luxury Hi-Rise 4 & 5-star hotels within the city. Back in September 2008, just as the recession kicked in, the proposal for this scheme first came to light but [...]
  Keith Nicol
• Torrevieja’s new Harbour Plan revisited
  Back in August 2008, Torrevieja’s Mayor, Pedro Hernandez Mateo, presented an ambitious plan for a new Harbour Front project that would completely revitalise the City’s seafront.  This project is designed to be a joint venture between public and private developers with investment exceeding 130 million euros. The project will transform the entire seafront of the [...]
  Keith Nicol
• St. Patrick’s Festivities in Daya Nueva
  Shamrocks. Potatoes. Guinness. De Lorean, Black Bush, Daya Nueva! Name the connection? If you shouted out St. Patrick; top marks and go to the top of the class, as the pueblo of Daya Nueva shall be celebrating Ireland’s Patron Saint with a week of festivities, starting on the March 14th 2010. This year’s ‘A Day [...]
  Keith Nicol
• Special Music for Los Costaleros
  It’s not enough that Torrevieja is proud to have the world’s first International Cofradia but now, they even have their own tune to lighten the load. The Director of La Sociedad Musical Ciudad de Torrevieja ‘Los Salerosos’ has written a score that the band shall play as the 100-strong Los Casteleros carry the their float, [...]
  Keith Nicol
• 3 Spaniards behind botnet affecting 13 million PCs
  Three Spaniards were found to be behind a botnet that infected more than 13 million computers, allowing them to gain access to bank-account details of around 800,000 individuals according to authorities. The “Mariposa” (butterfly) network, which was brought down by the Spanish Civil Guard in collaboration with the FBI, had infected 500 company IT networks, including [...]
  Maria Sullivan

Spanish News

• Alicante Water Not A Problem March 10, 2010
  Alicante province is guaranteed water for the next two years.It has been the wettest autumn and winter for over 20 years.Water stocks in all reservoirs are at a peak.Entrepeñas and Buendia reservoirs are holding 832 cubic hectometres ,an amount not seen since 2004. Consequently there will not be any restrictions for domestic,industrial or agricultural use.The only [...]
  admin
• Electronic Darts In Benidorm March 9, 2010
  Benidorm is holding the 20th National Electronic darts Championship at the Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa sports complex. The competition has attracted more than 10,000 visitors to Benidorm.The town is hosting the event for the third year running.There are 500 teams taking part and there are 8,500 competitors who have brought with them 4000 supporters.All of this [...]
  admin
• Electronic Darts In Benidorm March 9, 2010
  Benidorm is holding the 20th National Electronic darts Championship at the Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa sports complex. The competition has attracted more than 10,000 visitors to Benidorm.The town is hosting the event for the third year running.There are 500 teams taking part and there are 8,500 competitors who have brought with them 4000 supporters.All of this [...]
  admin
• Javea Young People March 9, 2010
  Youngsters from age 12 to 17 in Javea are heping each other with their respective languages.British and Spanish schoolchildren are taking part in a conversation exchange to help improve their knowledge of each others languages.There is a newly launched youth organisation,Monjove and they will attend Monjove’s headquarters  for 45 minute sessions  in March ,April and [...]
  admin
• Javea Young People March 9, 2010
  Youngsters from age 12 to 17 in Javea are heping each other with their respective languages.British and Spanish schoolchildren are taking part in a conversation exchange to help improve their knowledge of each others languages.There is a newly launched youth organisation,Monjove and they will attend Monjove’s headquarters  for 45 minute sessions  in March ,April and [...]
  admin
• Costa Blanca News…Moraira…Alfaz del Pi..Finestrat March 9, 2010
  This year the Moraira Moors and Christians Association is organising an amateur photographers competition in the town.The first prize will be 200 euros and the theme includes just about any angle on the Moors and Christians festivities.The pictures can be in colour or black and white.They have to be mounted on 40cm x50cm card,have a [...]
  admin
• Costa Blanca News…Waterworks….Villajoyosa Square March 9, 2010
  The water deposito in La Nucia’s Bello Horizonte is having special work done on it to improve the quality of the water.The deposito supplies drinking water to Bello Horizonte ,Mirimar and Puerto Azul urbanisations. The town hall is spending over 5000 euros on the work at the deposito at Calle Reykiavik which should be finished by [...]
  admin
• Javea U3A March 9, 2010
  The martha and Mary Convent is situated in the old town of Javea and housed within the convent is a day centre for Alzheimers sufferers.The Javea U3A is well known for supporting local causes and during February they turned their attentions to the Day centre. Monies raised from a Saint Valentine’s ball  plus monies from a [...]
  admin
• Benidorm Fisherman March 9, 2010
  A few weeks ago a Benidorm fisherman was fishing off the rocks at Punta del Cavall when a huge wave came in and swept him off the rocks.They were doing some night fishing when the incident happened.He was fishing with a friend who raised the alarm once he realised what had happened. A massive air and [...]
  admin
• Spanish News-Weather March 9, 2010
  Last week huge storms hit the north west Spanish coastline.Three people were killed in the hurricane force winds which hit Galicia .An 82 year old woman was killed when a wall was blown over and fell on her.Then a couple were killed in their car when it hit a fallen tree which had been blocking [...]
  admin

Archives

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Recent Posts

• The Fight against Poverty – Government Agreements
• Stats 2010
• 80 Kilos of explosives and bomb-making material found in ETA stash
• 3 Bed Spanish Properties – Not as Cheap as You Think
• Storm lashes Spain, Portugal and France

UK News

Spanish News

• BA, American, Iberia to cede airport slots March 10, 2010
  BRUSSELS -- EU regulators say British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia are offering to give away take-off and landing slots at London and New York airports to soothe European Union antitrust con...
• BA, American, Iberia to cede airport slots March 10, 2010
  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BRUSSELS -- EU regulators say British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia are offering to give away take-off and landing slots at London and New York airports to soothe Europ...
• Power to be returned to storm affected homes today March 10, 2010
  An estimated 50,000 homes are still without power this morning An estimated 50,000 homes in Girona remain without power this morning after the heavy snowfalls seen in the area 36 hours ago. Endesa say...
• Price put on Malaya corruption in Marbella March 10, 2010
  512 million € has been lost from the Town Hall accounts because of the case Marbella Town Hall has put a price on the Malaya corruption case in the town – more than 500 million €. The largest po...
• Spain's 13 provinces on alert as bad weather continues March 10, 2010
  MADRID, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Ongoing bad weather put 13 Spanish autonomous communities on alert Tuesday. The provinces of Barcelona, Gerona, Tarragona and the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and F...
• Drugs car chase in Benidorm and Altea March 10, 2010
  Three men escaped on foot at the end of the chase The National Police in Benidorm have recovered a haul of hashish after a car chase with some traffickers during which shots were fired. The police swo...
• Spain Weather - Wednesday March 10 2010 March 10, 2010
  The snow moves away but cold temperatures remain across Spain today Clear skies across Spain today, but that means it’s going to be very cold in most areas with the Spanish Meteorological Agency put...
• Spanish aid worker set to be released in Mauritania March 10, 2010
  Alicia Gárcia is expected to be free in the next few hours El Mundo is reporting that one of the three Catalan aid workers who was kidnapped over three months ago in Mauritania is to be released late...
• Real Madrid - Lyon Preview UEFA Champions League 10/03/2010 March 9, 2010
  Manuel Pellegrini, Madrid coach We know what we need to do. I hope we play like we did in the last 70 minutes against Sevilla, There are no easy opponents in the Champions League.
• Manchester United - AC Milan Preview UEFA Champions League 10/03/2010 March 9, 2010
  In Milan it was a landmark victory for us. Perhaps we should have killed off the tie in the middle of the second half, but Seedorf's goal near the end keeps the tie on a tightrope

Spanish

• Kathy Krajco's Attempt at Censorship December 10, 2005
• US air marshalls kill bomb alert passenger December 7, 2005
• The Wonderful Wicked WikiPedia! December 5, 2005
• Update on the Current Delay August 24, 2005
  For anyone who might miss my comment attached to the previous post, here's the text again:"Thanks everyone for your kind support! I must apologise for having been so quiet for so long. Unfortunately I have been very busy with a number of things which could not wait and, even now, I have just completed 'phase one' of redecorating our kitchen. Over the next few weeks I hope to get it together so that another podcast emerges even though, at the moment, I have to fight a path through the rubble and building materials to even get to my Mac and I only have a very vague idea of where the mixer and the mic might be."
• Downloading Older Podcasts Using iTunes July 1, 2005
  Open up iTunes and click on "Podcasts" in the left-hand pane - it should be the first item after "Library". If you can't find the "Podcasts" item you almost certainly need to update your iTunes to the latest version. Now you will either see the colourful podcast directory or a list of podcasts you have already subscribed to. In the latter case you need to click on "Podcast Directory" towards the bottom left of the right-hand pane. On the left of the right-hand pane you'll now find a search box above the words "Search All Podcasts". Using this box, type in "Really Learn Spanish" and hit [enter]/[return]. You'll now get two entries for "Really Learn Spanish" - one I believe is a mirror of sorts which does not appear to update and you'll want to avoid subscribing to it. The good one is the one that has "johan.vanrooyen@gmail.com" as the artist. Just click on the "Subscribe" button and you'll be taken to your subscriptions page or whatever it's called. The most recent podcast - currently no. 5 - will start downloading automatically. You can download the others by clicking on the "Get" button next to each individual podcast. In order to have easy access to podcasts on your iPod you first need to update your software and then go Settings>Main Menu>Podcasts>On.
• iTunes June 29, 2005
  Test
• Keith Lard Makes a Valuable Contribution April 30, 2005
  "I've been watching a lot of Friends dubbed into Spanish, which is good because I already know who everyone is and what's going on because I've seen most of them before in English. They do speak very fast, and the deadpan delivery makes it hard to tell which bits are meant to be funny, but the canned laughter helps. I'm picking up lots and lots of little phrases and fragments, and I get excited when I understand a whole chunk at once. I think there are two skills involved in listening: the first is actually decoding a continuous stream of speech into its component words, and the second is knowing what those Spanish words mean. It's the first skill that really benefits from a lot of listening. What used to be high-speed noise seems to magically crystallise after a while into well-formed Spanish sentences. Even if you don't understand the sentences completely, you can get valuable context to help you guess the words you don't know. And as he points out, you always get things in context. Certain phrases and constructions crop up absolutely all the time, and you just learn them as blocks or templates which you can use to build sentences. If you start off by learning grammar, and you know past participles are formed by taking the infinitive stem and adding '-ado' for -AR verbs and 'ido' for -ER/IR verbs, you might have trouble remembering whether it's 'he olvidado' or 'he olvidido' for 'I forgot'. You have to remember which kind of verb the infinitive is and work forwards from there, and you could still get it wrong. On the other hand, if you listen to a lot of Spanish, you've probably heard people say 'he olvidado' a million times, and you never once heard them say 'he olvidido', so you just know. It's this 'just knowing' which gives you a big confidence boost. Words, phrases and sentences arrive in your brain fully-formed and correctly pronounced, without you having to laboriously construct them from grammatical rules and then double-check that all the adverbs agree and so on. Similarly with listening comprehension, after a while you start understanding things as blocks of meaning, not individual words. Translating word by word into English is much too slow when people are speaking at full speed - you need to hear the Spanish, understand what's being said without mentally working out an English translation, and immediately be ready to listen to the next bit. It's a little bit Zen because you need to stop trying so hard to understand and just let the sounds come in. I could liken it to Magic Eye for the ears, because it's when you stop struggling and let your subconscious brain get on with it that it suddenly happens. At first in flashes, but then in bigger and bigger chunks until you can understand whole sections of dialogue. When you're not focusing on mentally translating into English, you've got time to absorb context and body language and facial expressions which all help convey what's being said."
• Bad Editing on Really Learn Spanish 5 April 18, 2005
  Having uploaded the last cast and having listened to it (in that order!) I now realise how appalling the editing is - my apologies. I will rerecord and re-edit it and upload it again at the same time as I upload the next podcast. One of my other options was to fix it straight away which would have been the best but I have to go to work now and I anticipate a busy week ahead. The other option I discarded was to upload it next weekend, for example, but then people may think they've downloaded podcast no. six and might be disappointed or angry or whatever at discovering all they got was another version of no. five.
• Really Learn Spanish - 5 (14:56) April 17, 2005
  Third Anniversary of the 48 Hour Coup in Venezuela Dinner Table Conversation Which Books to Read (following on from Podcast 1) Dave Slusher has a Good Idea and an Invitation *** THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED First Transcript: Que hay una mano invisible: el mercado que todo lo arregla. Mentira, mentira, mil veces mentira. Claro que hay otros caminos y en Venezuela lo estamos demostrando. He tenido que aguantar las más grandes presiones internacionales, pero no me importa nada. Si algún día me toca bajar al quinto infierno para defender el pueblo bolivariano de Venezuela pues me iré al quinto infierno para defenderlo... Second Transcript: Quiero hacer un llamado, y esto es quizás lo más importante que yo quiero decir hoy. ¿Hoy es domingo, ya? ... Domingo, ¿qué fecha? ... Catorce de abril. Yo, pues he estado incomunicado en las últimas horas y no tenía ninguna información, tenía una angustia muy grande. Y lo primero y más importante que digo a todos los venezolanos es que vuelvan a sus casas, que vuelva la calma. Ustedes venezolanas, ustedes venezolanos que me adversan, pues advérsenme. Yo no puedo... trataré de que ... de hacerlos cambiar, ojalá. Pero ustedes no pueden adversar esta constitución. Porque esto es un libro para todos, es como el Popul Vuh, aquel libro de los Maya. El Popul Vuh, el libro de todos, el libro de la comunidad. Tienen que reconocer todo esto. Y sobre todo algo. Oye, no se dejen envenenar. No permitan que los envenenen, ¡con tantas cosas y tantas mentiras!
• The Next Podcast (5) April 11, 2005
  Apologies for the long delay. I have now started work on the next installment of Really Learn Spanish and it should go out by Monday the 18th. As the last podcast concentrated heavily on grammar, this time I'll talk about dinner table conversation and look at which books you might want to read in Spanish.