Huelga General - Sevilla, España - 29 Septiembre 2010 (29S / 29-S)

September 29, Sevilla, España.

Today there was a general Strike - the Huelga General - coordinated by the syndicates and labor unions. According to one source, this was the first general strike in Spain in nearly a decade. With all the protestors picketing the streets, preventing employees from working, and condemning capitalism and the recent, pro-business reforms and austerity measures by the Zapatero government, I set out to do what seems most logical. I went shopping.

But shopping I didn’t do. Only a few, brave businesses on side streets had their doors open at the stroke of 10 a.m. These shopkeepers were standing at their entrances, however, on the lookout for protestors and to see if other business were opening or participating. The large businesses on or near the major shopping streets - Calle Sierpes and Calle Teutuan - were mostly closed. The managers of stores in the main shopping zone brave enough to open in the morning were quickly forced or persuaded to close their shutters by heckling picketers and mobs. At times, a picket leader would ask to speak with the store manager and employees, inform them about the motivations of the huelga, and ultimately persuade them to close. Other times, it was more physical: mobs entered stores yelling and compelled the managers to close by force or aggressive intimidation. In both cases, applause, heckling, and sticker vandalism followed the protestors’ success. Watch the footage I shot here:

I thought I was being smart by wearing red today, but it wasn’t the best call. While I blended in with all the protestors, several police men were suspicious of my photographic assertiveness. I got surrounded, detained, and questioned for taking pictures of them. They told me that I had to erase the photos before letting me go. As any sane person would do in this situation, I disappeared into the crowd and kept my photos (album here).

When inalienable rights are compromised, I stand behind protest. But when governments enact reform in order to protect and continue the means of securing those rights (and, as some would argue, privileges) from collapsing, protest is nothing short of mismanaged energy and misguided anger. Some of the Zapatero administration reforms, according to the BBC, are as follows:

“The Spanish government has approved an austerity budget for 2011 which includes a tax rise for the rich and 8% spending cuts. Madrid has promised European counterparts to cut its deficit to 6% of its gross domestic product (GDP) next year, from 11.1% last year. Government workers face a pay cut of 5%, starting in June, and salaries will then be frozen for 2011. A tax rise of 1% will be applied to personal income above 120,000 euros. Smaller savings include an end to a 2,500-euro cash payout for new mothers, known as "baby cheques". Unemployment has more than doubled - to about 20% - since 2007.” 

These measures are not an attack on the workers, the general population, or their rights. Rather, they are the means by which Spain can continue to guarantee the rights and privileges of its citizens. The alternative - economic depression, hardship, and the loss of even more jobs - would be much worse. And as everyone knows, especially when bundled with other issues like food shortages and political instability, economic depression can ultimately be the tinder that sets fire to the rights and privileges we hold so dearly and take for granted.

Needless to say, it is counter intuitive that syndicates and labor unions would endorse a day without work, business, and income, when it is in part the lack of these things that are compelling the Zapatero government to cut-back spending and enact austerity reforms. 

At any rate, things were very quiet after the afternoon siesta and many shops reopened without issue. I was able to buy the jacket that I had my eye on. This jacket was made in Spain and I bought it from a Spanish retail chain. Hopefully the labor unions and syndicates appreciate the contribution to their pensions, free health care, and other social securities I quite happily surrendered in the form of my business and the IVA (sales tax). 

Huelga General - Sevilla, España - 29 Septiembre 2010

Huelga General - Sevilla, España - 29 Septiembre 2010

Death in the Afternoon: Corrida de Torros

Nothing is worse than hearing a bull bellow in agony while it is being slaughtered by the very person that has been feeding it like a king its entire life. Supposedly, if the matador is good and accurate, the final stab should collapse the bull in seconds. Lights out. No suffering. No bellows. I didn’t see good matadors Sunday evening. I saw a lot of suffering. It was amateur night and the bellows of 6 unlucky bulls reverberated throughout the beautiful night’s sky. 

Love it or hate it, bullfights are a matter of course in Spain. Despite the recent prohibitions in Cataluña (see this link), bullfighting - known as a corrida de toros in Spanish - is extremely popular. There is a certain logic to the “sport” that an untrained observer cannot immediately comprehend. The banderilleros are graceful and taunt the 1500 lbs bulls with their technicolor capes. Meanwhile, more quick-footed banderilleros jump out of the charging bull’s path at the very last second after stabbing it in the shoulder with two banderillas. After the banderilleros weaken the bull, a matador goes in for the kill and stabs the bull with a sword in a “kill spot.”

But the novice matadors on Sunday night repeatedly failed to kill the bulls quickly (WARNING: watch this video that I took for an example). It took the matadors several attempts to sink their swords into the “kill spot,” thereby inciting the bulls to moan in agony. The crowd often echoed the moan, seemingly due to their disappointment with the matador’s skill rather than the bull’s wellbeing. An uproar of another kind, of course, celebrated the bulls’ eventual, if slow, demise.

After seeing the first bull suffer, I was secretly praying for some retribution. I got it... not once, but twice. One matador got hit hard by a bull, flung into the air, and then trampled on before his mates distracted the animal and whisked the unlucky Spaniard out of the ring. Two fights later, a banderillero named Jesús Márquez suffered worse - a bull charged his leg and severed his femoral artery (see this article, and this one. WARNING: watch this video of the actual incident.). Human blood now painted the ring. Márquez was carried out and rushed to the emergency room. The remaining fights continued as planned. 

I had not formed an opinion on bullfighting before coming to Spain, and I’m not entirely sure that I was able to form an opinion after seeing my first bullfight. I saw suffering and retribution. Either way, I definitely didn’t leave the stadium feeling as jubilant as if my favorite football team had just won a game. I felt unnerved and fatigued. Empty even. At least, I was assured, the bulls don’t go to waste - their meat is eaten and their skin is crafted into kitschy goods for tourists to buy. 

Photos of the Week - 5 September 2010

 

Orange Grove - Avon Park, Florida

Orange Grove - Avon Park, Florida

Orange Grove - Avon Park, Florida 

Orange Grove - Avon Park, Florida

The Milky Way - (as seen from) Avon Park, Florida

The Milky Way - (as seen from) Avon Park, Florida

(repost) Orange Grove - Avon Park, Florida

Savoring of Flavor of the Southern United States One Last Time

With my year-long sojourn in Spain beginning on Sunday, I've been trying to consume as much of the good, greasy, American cuisine as I can. Spoon in the peanut butter? Check. Corn dogs? Check. With those American delicacies aside, there aint nothing more American than a good ol' cheeseburger or a plate of BBQ. While I typically don't eat beef or pork, the sudden realization that I'll be thousands of miles away from southern BBQ and cheeseburgers has me frantic.

A few weeks back several friends and I went to eat cheeseburgers at Bird's Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack in Tallahassee, Florida. This is perhaps the best burger I've ever had. It is not greasy, but rather juicy and full of flavor. They have crazy toppings there too, like peanut-butter, bananas, jalapeños, etc. But I like to keep my fun traditional: a slice of American cheese, ketchup, onions, tomatoes, mayo, and lettuce. Delicious.

Last week, a few other friends and I went to Tom Jenkins Bar-B-Q in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This place is smoking. I ordered the spare ribs, chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and corn bread. While the corn bread was a bit dry, the rest was amazing: the collard greens were tender and a bit sweet, the macaroni wasn't too cheesy, the pork fell off the bone, the chicken was juicy, and the baked beans were robust. You'll definitely leave smelling like a BBQ grill and weighing an extra few pounds, but those are small sacrifices.

While I certainly don't eat this type of food very often, I must admit I'll miss the opportunity to grab a quality plate of southern BBQ or a cheeseburger on a whim. What I'll miss most, though, is the dinner company. The maxim is true; the best side dishes with BBQ or a burger are friends. A new place, however, brings new friends and new food.

Get a Burger with a Side of Bigotry at the Wild Turkey Tavern in Avon Park, Florida

The Wild Turkey Tavern, a popular restaurant in Sebring and owned by Mike Reark, is perhaps known more for its self-conscious “country” chic and the controversial messages on its marquee than its mediocre food. Usually the messages are political in nature, which I believe to be healthy for political discourse. But recently its messages are hateful and intolerant. The sign today reads:

RAMADAN-A

DING-DONG

ITS PISS OFF A

MULSIM MONTH

I’m not an opponent of free speech, nor do I think political correctness is always good or necessary. I am, likewise, not partial to any organized religion. But bigotry - either on religious, racial, or social grounds - is unacceptable. Long before the phrase “In God We Trust” was emblazoned in our national consciousness, and long before our political and economic liberation from England, there existed a precedent of religious freedom and tolerance. Even at the very moment the USA was born, our founding fathers extolled this simple right. To imagine the USA as a nation not religiously inclusive, tolerant, or at least accepting is profoundly un-American (see the link below for a recent historian's ground-breaking study on religion in early America).

Shame on you, Wild Turkey, for your bigotry, hate, and ignorance of your nation’s own history. If you enter the establishment, you'll also find other expressions of bigotry - racial graffiti next to confederate flags and much, much more. If you find this offensive, please boycott the Wild Turkey Tavern. Write letters to the local press condemning this behavior. And, lastly, do not vote for Hinote, Scott, or Renfro in the upcoming 2010 elections, for they support the Wild Turkey Tavern. That said, it’s unfortunate and very likely that the Tavern's business will continue to serve burgers with sides of bigotry.

For more information on the owners's hateful, ignorant, and disgraceful signs, see this article published by Highlands Today and this blog entry.

Photo of the Week - 25 July 2010

Photo of the Week - 25 July 2010

Doak Campbell Stadium - Tallahassee, Florida

Safety Razors: The Practice of Slow, Ecological, and Economical Living

I recently ran out of Gillette Mach 3 cartridges and headed to the store to buy some more. I was disgusted to find out that the prices had increased: they now charge around $15 for 5 blades. While it is cheaper to buy in bulk - with prices dropping to a little more than $2 per blade for a box of 15 - prices are still excessive. Having to be mindful of my expenditures due to a major move, I was determined not to give Gillette any more of my money on their razor racket and went home empty-handed to do research on alternatives.

I first mulled the idea of buying a straight razor, but the learning-curve and time-investment are a bit extreme according to all accounts. I then discovered “safety razors” (also called “single blade safety razors” or “double edge (DE) safety razors”). Safety razors are old-fashioned razors, the kind your grandfather used. They were invented in the eighteenth century and further refined towards the end of the nineteenth to enable easy and safe auto-shaving.

The mechanics are simple; twist the handle to open the razor, place a double edge razor blade inside, twist the handle to secure the blade. They are called “safety razors” because they have “bumpers” that glide along your face to ease the amount of angle, contact, and depth the blade has with your skin.

The safety razor has a cult-like following, with extremely active discussion boards and review sites (Badger & Blade; The Shave Den; etc.) scattered around the web. There is a good reason: it delivers the cleanest, closest shave available, eliminates razor bumps and irritation, and exfoliates the skin. Yes, a one-blade safety razor gives a better shave than a 3- or 4-blade cartridge. With cheaper blades and less plastic waste, this method of shaving also makes more sense economically and ecologically.

Though, there are some drawbacks: shaving time now increases from about 2 minutes to 10. It takes more time to shave because more attention goes into “prepping” your face for the shave with lather/soap and because you need to shave slowly, being careful not to cut or nick yourself. However, some would argue that the time and care needed to shave with a safety razor is part of its appeal. With various cremes, lathers, and shaving soaps, it is a practice in pampering oneself. With its exacting care and mindfulness, it is a practice of slow-living. If you’re the type of person who wakes up 15 minutes before work, this isn’t the system for you.

The economic benefits are undeniable. When bought in bulk, DE razor blades cost .12 cents on average. You can probably get the same mileage from these razor blades as you can from Gillette cartridges. Similarly, you do not need to buy proprietary blades. You can buy/try blades from other companies - which are built differently and give different shaves - without compatibility issues.

The blades are also ecologically wise. There is comparatively very little plastic waste. While higher-priced DE razor blades come in plastic, they typically come packaged in paper. Needless to say, there is no plastic on the blade unlike their gillettean counterparts. The blades are 100% biodegradable. Similarly, the razor handle is not made out of plastic, but a sturdy, long-lasting metal.

There is also a short learning curve; you’ll need to relearn how to shave using your new razor; it will have 1) a sharper blade at 2) a different angle and 3) a heavier weight. I didn’t cut myself on my first shave, and if you’re careful you won’t either. I did nick myself, however, which I didn’t realize until after my shave. I didn’t even notice the nicks until little spots of blood appeared. This probably has more to do with my inexperience and technique with my new razor. Despite this, I threw my old Gillette in the trash after my first shave. Ladies can use this on their legs and pitts with the same benefits too.

While there is a small initial investment (about $20-30 for a razor; $10 for a brush; $12 for a 100-pack of blades, couple bucks for shaving soap), the long-term savings (economically and ecologically speaking) are a no-brainer. This system would pay for itself after two packs of cartridges from Gillette. Plus, this method will give you the closest shave of your life while exfoliating your skin. Take the plunge. Learn how to shave with a safety razor and live better.

If you’ve found my post helpful, please use the links below to browse for your new razors and blades:

--

a painter of modern life

Applying for a Visa at the General Consulate of Spain in Miami

While there was a slight snag in my VISA application - my local background report was “expired -, my appointment was nothing short of fabulous. The lady who processed my application told me that I could send an up-to-date local background report via e-mail or snail-mail, thus saving me another trip to Coral Gables. She was really helpful and generally in a cheerful mood for being inundated with work; a line of about 25 people had already formed by the time I left. I was even called to the front of the line when I returned to the consulate in order to get a copy of my passport notarized - something that I had forgotten to do while I was there. It was, generally speaking, an extremely positive experience.

I'll have something stapled into my passport that looks like this in about six weeks:

Things to remember for future consulate or embassy visits: arrive early; take a positive attitude; and speak their language.

I returned to Avon Park, Florida with notice that the suddenly-implemented and stress-inducing FBI background clearance requirement had been waived for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Departure: 65 days.

Photo of the Week - 27 June 2010

Photo of the Week - 27 June 2010

Orange Grove - Avon Park, Florida