User:Lightfandango

2nd August '06 First and last working day of month today. Tomorrow off away on holiday. Not exactly sure how I feel about this - should be good ... but let's wait and see!

Local new is still no news, summer is what is known as 'silly season'. Mind you here all seasons are quiet here, journalists don't feel they can write all they know or they don't know much at all, and editors are frightened of government fall out. Sad really, but that's life here. As the old government adage goes, 'No news is good news'.

Perhaps, at this point, I should clear up the misconception of the meaning of news. Local news will, in early September, receive widespread coverage of the northern Spanish city of Barcelona as the Government Information Bureau of Information is sending representatives of local media there on a freebie - don't misunderstand this - this is not neccessarily government action as a payoff for services rendered, all media representatives will be expected to cover the historical nightlife of the local bodagas, discos, girls snd/or boys, depending on the gender of the reporter and perhaps which way they swing. One or two places where wine, whiskey and song is not the main dining course may also be on the agenda.

Two mainland Chinese officals dropped a couple of million at a casino at the weekend, is this a sign that the people of China are really getting rich or is it a case of 'same old, same old', regarding Mainland officials and "The people's" money?

Talking about the mainland, why is it that none of our illustrious journalists gave a mention to the transfer of two people - one of whom appeared completely limp (not his organ)but comatose, perhaps even lifeless - through the border gate on Saturday night. Silence is golden!

Labour law - or lack of it - caused unrest outside the Labour Depatment yesterday. a local legislator was quite aggitated that he couldn't find a Portguese version of the Labour Law on the internet despite assuances from the fat man that there was one.

Perhaps he should learn how to do a proper web search, start wearing glasses or stop believing in official fairy stories!

It seems that some workers claim their salary is in arrears despite it being illegal for employers not to pay on time. This is sadly one more case of 'The times, they are "not" changing'.

Salaries, or rather jobs, are a talking point at the moment. The question seems to be, 'To be educated and poor or uneducated and well off' Many young university leavers are finding it disapointedly more and more difficult to fing a good job after graduation whereas 18-year-olds are able to earn twice as much as their better educated counterparts. With no investment in the job sector other than the mushrooming of casinos it is not surprising that young people are somewhat concerend about their future prospects.

4rd August