Luis Rodriguez
Pope Tangles With Spanish Policy
Having already caused a stir in the UK and Malta this year, Pope Benedict XVI has taken the pope-mobile for a spin in the sunny South-Western nation of Spain. And as usual, the old criticisms of the state’s gay marriage, divorce and abortion reforms have courted controversy and anger. But foreigners concerned that the one-time catholic stronghold may become influenced by the Vatican’s harsher messages can keep looking for house insurance Spain has defended its policies and gently reminded the 83-year-old Pope that Spain is a secular society.
The Pope was particularly critical of what he views as ‘aggressive secularism’, equating the legalisation of Gay weddings, the relaxation of abortion and divorce laws and the elimination of compulsory religious education with Spanish movements in the 1930s. The comparison was harshly criticised in the Spanish press. The Pope was referring to the Second Spanish Republic, which had significant anti-church leanings but the Pope failed to factor in the natural association with their opponents in the Civil War, the Nazi-enabled fascist dictatorship of General Franco that lasted for 25 years. Eyebrows have been raised and some are suggesting that he’s one holiday cottage insurance policy short of a dream holiday home.
The Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero largely avoided the Pope during his visit, choosing instead to visit Spanish troops in Afghanistan. Meeting the Pope for a handshake at Barcelona airport at the end of his trip, he restated the country’s ‘smooth relationship’ with the Vatican. But Zapatero was keen to remind the pope that the Spanish constitution ‘guarantees the freedom of all’ even despite the vast catholic majority and general importance of the church in the nation.
Zapatero is keen to make Spain an inviting place to the historically more secular member states of the European Union. Reliant on tourism and international markets, he also faces trouble ahead at re-election because of the problems in the Spanish property market. But foreign property buyers and investors will doubtlessly only profit from Spain’s problems, with many bargains on properties and holiday home insurance as a result.
Luis J. Rodriguez – Ave 50 Studio
|
|
Rebelde: Tercera Temporada $4.49 All of the third-season episodes are featured in a three-disc set. 12 2/3 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: Spanish; Subtitles: English. In Spanish with English subtitles…. |
|
|
From Mambo to Hip Hop $12.41 FROM MAMBO TO HIP HOP – DVD Movie… |
|
|
Karaoke 100 Canciones $19.25 Rocio Durcal, Camilo Sesto, Roberto Carlos, Juan Gabriel, Manoella Torres, Juan Manuel Serrta, Jose Jose, Los Hnos Castro, Danny Daniel, Camilo Sesto, Miguel Bose, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Napoleon, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Vecente Fernandez, Pepe aguilar, Ramon Ayala, Javier Solis, Intocable, Alejandro Fernandez, Pedro Infante, Rocio Durcal, Paquita, Los Tres Caballeros, Los Panchos, Los Tres Ases, Los … |
|
|
The Grandfather (El Abuelo) [VHS] $9.99 Nominated for an Academy Award(R) as Best Foreign Language Film, THE GRANDFATHER is a deeply compelling tale of love, honor, and secrecy. When news of his son’s death returns proud, old Count Albrit home to Spain after years abroad, he’s pleased to meet his two charming young granddaughters. But he also carries the burden of a newly discovered family secret: one of the girls is not his son’s daugh… |
|
|
The Burning Season – The Chico Mendes Story [VHS] $19.98 … |
|
|
Dreamer-Inspired By a True Story [VHS] $9.99 The title is a mouthful, but Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story hits the winner’s circle as a warm and inspiring family film. Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a Kentucky horse trainer who watches in horror as a championship filly breaks its leg during a practice run. Ordinarily that means curtains, but today Ben’s daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning), is at the track, and Ben impulsively buys the horse and l… |
|
|
Fast & Furious (2009) $2.99 … |
|
|
Dreamer – Inspired By a True Story (Widescreen Edition) $3.24 Features include: •MPAA Rating: PG•Format: DVD•Runtime: 106 minutes… |
|
|
Miami Vice (Unrated Director’s Edition) [Blu-ray] $5.40 Bearing absolutely no resemblance to the 1980s TV series that helped to propel Michael Mann into big-time filmmaking, Miami Vice is the kind of serious, and seriously stylish, crime drama that Mann does better than anyone else. As written by Mann himself, this undercover sting thriller doesn’t reach the peak intensity of Mann’s 1995 classic Heat, and it lacks the tight, nail-biting suspense of Col… |
|
|
2007 Luis Rodriguez Ribeiro A Torna dos Pasas Escolma Tinto 750ml 91 points John Gilman View From the Cellar I am assuming that the 2007 A Torna Dos Pasas is made from the same blend of grapes as the 2008 Vina de Martin Tinto, but I am not sure and it is too close to deadline to check in with Jose Pastor. In any event, the wine is very good, as it offers up a deep and youthful nose of black cherries, a bit of cranberry, balsam bough, espresso, woodsmoke, fresh h… |
