Some historical advice from an Irish perspective for Esperanza Aguirre on the pitfalls of attempting to demonstrate by symbolic means the virile and libertarian spirit of Madrid in the invented and regrettable conflict between it and doldrummed Barcelona.

The precedents for, and some possible implications of, the Catalanisation of Barcelona’s cinemas. Plus some crowd-pleasing video of the Quebec language police in action. (Allez! Allez! Allez! And the hell with the economy!) All in somewhat fevered response to an article by Martin Dahms in the Tages-Anzeiger.

One of Spanish nationalism’s numerous Achilles heels.

And they’re going descriptive, bit by bit.

Do Spanish speakers get more excited about “defective” accents than English speakers?

By Ramon Vila & Marta Cuatrecasas

Stallholders in Vilafranca del Penedès are slashing prices, but don’t let greed get the better of you.

It’s looking good, and who the hell cares if it’s unconstitutional?

Here. With 350 million illegal flicks downloaded in Spain last year, that horse has already bolted. So adieu cinemas, and adéu language, but more work for bureaucrats and lawyers, who will also thrive from the proposal to make it punishable for a spouse not to perform half the housework. Q: Who’s going to invest in [...]

Renfe’s public information system at plaza Cataluña station can’t cope with the cedilla in Maçanet.

A cloud of fruit flies have crawled in through Miquel Coll i Alentorn’s ear and devoured his brain.

El Ministerio de Trabajo e Inmigración is struggling with Catalan, but not quite enough. All this doesn’t matter, of course, because the Germans and French will save us.

Another nail in the coffin of the language police is creating a wave of Europhile euphoria in this household.

Barcelona’s huge subsidy to Woody Allen may attract some tourists, but the film has not achieved the politicians’ goal of promoting the notion of a separate Catalan identity.

A fascinating ethnic map of 1920 Paris, and the suggestion that the metropolis was colonised by the provinces rather than vice versa.

A Barcelona news-stand operator talks about Catalan after being stickered by the language vigilantes.

Catalan Europhilia seems to be decreasing as contact with European institutions increases.

A conversation between Uncle Sam and Senyor Ambrós throws new light on notions of linguistic hegemony.

As the evenings draw in, the Arenys de Mar sensimilla syndicate has taken time off from the plantation to post another shambling Gran Armada-wreck of nationalist historical revisionism. (It’s dated 2006, but this is the first time it’s turned up in my reader, so…) As is customary, our scenario is back-to-the-future: a massive 15th century [...]

Efforts have been made to erase a sticker of a member of the Incredible Hulk clan. Superimposed on the wooden cross of the door, what a formidable Trinity that would have been! (Anglocabrones often say the eye belongs to Providence. Whatever.)
Sometimes the Eye and the Hand are combined in one icon, as in this Hamsa [...]