"La Huelga General"

So today, 29 March, the public here are staging a wide protest against new labor laws here in Spain. I thought these articles were interesting. I think CNN has taken an interesting point of view by interviewing only people who disagree with the strike and who, quite obviously, would greatly benefit from other types of negotiation practices with the government.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/28/world/europe/spain-strike-preparations/index.html
and live coverage later during the day...
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2012/03/29/goodman-wbt-spain-on-strike.cnn?iref=allsearch

I also think that it's important to see a different perspective, especially the general opinion from within the country. Millions of people wouldn't be striking if they didn't believe that it would be worth it. After all, they are losing money too by striking. Apparently, many españoles see a greater benefit, one beyond money, here.

Which brings me back to CNN's, and probably several US news networks', coverage of events like this one.  The US is in a very important moment right now--a moment that is ripe for bringing change.  Which kind of change will it ultimately be? That is left to be seen, but hopefully, it will be a change for the better for the vast majority of people in the country. That being said, I am left slightly upset at the POV chosen by CNN. I completely understand why CNN has chosen this view. Politically ( for both Dems and GOP) CNN cannot risk someone taking the opinion that they are supporting a nationwide strike against the government... Neither can the US government. It saddens me that there is no unbiased news anywhere. It's all influenced by someone somewhere with enough money or political weight.

That being said, I can read the following article from a distance. It's in Spanish, but if you may be reading this using Google Chrome, you can use the translate option.

http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/03/28/actualidad/1332958776_265683.html#serviciosminimos

Obviously, I'm not taking a side here as there are years and years of political and social history that I know nothing about, but what will say is that I can appreciate the movement of a large group of people demonstrating peacefully (although, it's still early yet, and many have been arrested already and there are several police that have been injured) for what they believe in, trying to initiate a change. The people of the US would do well to take note.  The Occupy Movement was a good thing, but it's time for something more organized.

Phew....

So this last month has been.......interesting, to say the least. So much has happened, though I haven't really done anything.  I tried to get out of my living situation and FAIL. Can't get out of my contract. So, at the beginning of this month I was just running around spinning my wheels for absolutely nothing ultimately. I swear it's been quite the roller-coaster ride. I've been sick three times this month, my glasses got broken, trying to figure out this university is just...*facepalm* mixed with my own head fog is just making things crazy. But, I am trying to look on the bright side: I have contacts, I will eat before I go to BBQs, my class schedule is set now, and my flat here is really cute and I really like it. 


Also, my flatmates are really trying to be accommodating, considering.  However, that only lasted until we had some new "roommates" move in: las hormigas. Yes, they came, they saw, and....they died, yes, because I killed them. I'm not sure how serious they were taking me when I stated--pretty clearly, I thought--"I don't do ants (or bugs, or creepy crawlers, or rodents, or anything that comes in uninvited and ruins your food)." 


"Well," one girl said, "I don't like the idea of spraying such harsh chemicals in the kitchen." And the other promptly followed with, "And these sprays are really harsh. You have to wear a mask and leave the house for 45minutes." 


I stared blankly at them for a few seconds, then down at my box of Cheerios in the garbage that was 3/4 full of cereal and 1/4 full of ants. Then one of them suggested that we buy traps for the ants. Well, this was something that I never knew existed. Traps for ants, you say? Sounds like a fail, but ok, I'll humor you.  The next morning when I went into the kitchen, I noticed the traps on the floor next to the cabinet. I also noticed all of the ants crawling on the trap and up the cabinet and into the cabinet and onto the food and onto the dishes. After class that day, I walked down to this store called Carrefour, the French equivalent of a Super Target, where I purchased some items: milk, cheese, contact solution, also Raid. 


I no longer have ants.


And boy do I feel better about not scratching myself like a crackhead.


Do I feel bad about lying about spraying?        *Ahem*