It’s not what you steal, it’s the way that you steal it.

Excerpts from Juan Goytisolo and Ramón Fernández Palmeral, with an epitaph from George Orwell.

Link love for 05/06/2009.

If you believe crap like the stat in this post we’ll have you certified.

One of Barcelona’s last patches of pre-war farms, small factories and cottages is under assault from planners.

Gypsy clans living on an old dung heap north of Granada may have the answer.

Regular updates from Ali Baba’s cave.

Twenty-nine actually, he forgot a grand. And then there’s thirty more on completion. The mayor of Ohanes’ analysis of the electoral politics of corruption is hilarious:

Of course, this isn’t real corruption like the conservative PP’s. Nice detail: the telly stays on, not to kill hidden mikes, but for reasons of social etiquette.

The Auken report to the European Parliament may be above to be scuppered by a conspiracy between Spain’s two principal mafias.

I’m just curious: did PSOE secretary general José Blanco know this disgraceful amendment to coastal protection legislation was going to be introduced when he purchased an illegal apartment on a Galician beach, or is this all about saving Andalusia’s socialist president for life Manuel Chaves’ illegal and still undemolished beach hotel?

Socialist José Sócrates continues to deny taking bribes from the British developer, Freeport, while he was environment minister. Zazie links to bloggers who expose his official income and assets, and wonders how a chicken can get so fat on so little, and why the two major parties are keeping so quiet.

A journey through the remains of Expo 92. At least it hasn’t all been stolen, as tended to happen to unguarded buildings in Andalusia during the construction boom.