This photo taken from the free newspaper 20 Minutos, but the online version, shows the result of the early spring weather that we've been having in Madrid. While I haven't been wearing a beret, Madrid has. Fortunately for us, the weather has decided to change. Although I'll put on a beret again and miss the sun, the health benefits of less pollution will be greatly appreciated by anyone suffering from breathing problems. I always blame the altitude for making me more tired than I am at sea level, but I imagine pollution doesn't help.These are some of my other conclusions from this week's bout of dirty air. First of all, I remember not being able to see the end of the street where I used to live because all of the buildings burned coal. Once the fire brigade even came to my building because there was so much smoke coming out of the chimney, and I think someone called them thinking the place was on fire. Most buildings nowadays with central heating use natural gas. There are still some houses near, not blocks of flats, that still heat with coal so that when I used to hang my clothes outside to dry, they came in stinking worse than before I washed them. However, the most important result of our hazy week is the fact that the mayor of Madrid asked people to use public transport and leave their cars at home, which they ignored.
While I was writing the word mayor, I was wondering if I shouldn't capitalize it. The Royal Academy of Spanish has now ruled that 'king' and 'pope' are no longer capitalized as in king Juan Carlos I or pope Benedict XVI. The other day I read a news headline about a plane crash in which 6 people were wounded. I thought the use of wounded instead of injured sounded very odd. Would any of you use wounded in reference to an accident such as this?
I'm a bit late composing this because I thought it was a good day to clean my wooden floors and the carpets. I had been thinking about doing the windows. The threat of rain has liberated me from that chore for the moment. As always, hope you have a good week.
I think injured is a better choice as well. You can come clean my carpets if ya want...
ReplyDeleteI would have a debate with the royal academy of spanish (see how they like being lower case?). If the title is a proper one, a specific king, I believe the entire title should be capitalized. There is only one pope, it should be capitalized when referring to 'the' Pope, same as with the President of the United States or any country.
ReplyDeleteWounded, perhaps, but I'd go for injured in that case. Wounded sort of implies an aggressive or hostile action.
Have a good day, cleaning is necessary, but today I'm not into anything necessary. :-}
I agree with you Brenda, wounded does sound a little strange. Hope you had fun cleaning. I have my nephews for the weekend so I'll be doing a big cleaning first chance a get when I'm not to tired. Enjoy the rest of your day.
ReplyDeleteI also think wounded sounds strange, too. Puts me in the mindset that the crash was the result of war or a terrorist and the victims were "wounded" rather than "injured" in an accident. Not sure I understand the reasoning behind King/king and Pope/pope. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteSure hope the air clears up for you. Is anyone wearing a mask for protection? Burning coal for heat may still happen in the back woods or back country here in the USA, but I haven't seen or heard about coal for sale in years and years and years. Your clothing probably had black coal residue on it, as well as the small, didn't it? Oh my. Take care!
it's kind of interesting the de capitalizing, it kind of fits with the whole idea of less authority figures
ReplyDeleteYou shouldnt put a capitial for someones title, unless your also putting their name.
ReplyDeleteI'm having new carpets, so you only need to come for a coffee!!
I like the non-capitalization. Wow the air is as bad their as in LA. I hope it clears up. Wounded doesn't sound right to me; injured sounds better.
ReplyDelete