“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change” Wayne Dyer
Never confuse “activity” with “productivity”. Unknown
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The beautiful game really wa beautiful last night as Arsenal edged past Barcelona despite being almost outclassed in parts of the game. The 2-1 scoreline suggests a very tight game but the truth of the matter is that the bewildering skills of the Catalan team often threatened to turn the game into a Spanish rout. However, two wonderful goals by Arsenal cancelled out the lead set up by David Villa. If both teams can be constructively criticised then their biggest problem is that they often try to walk the ball into the net. However, it was a thrilling game to watch and technically spectacular. Well done Arsenal.
The weather is dreadful throughout the Iberian Peninsula with high winds creating huge waves on the northern coasts of Galicia and snow in many parts of the country. We have quite high winds at the moment but, with menacing clouds around the mountains, I can see the Mediterranean and the sun is about. We are so lucky to be here in this micro climate.
Here’s a story via SpanishVida
The Colegio de Médicos de Alicante (College of Physicians of Alicante) has found three people working as doctors in the area, without the necessary qualifications to carry the title. The fake medics were working at the Hospital de Alicante, Sant Joan d’Alacant, a health centre in Elche and another centre in Denia.
The people were all identified following an investigation after suspicions were raised with the authoritative body.
One of the pretend medics had obtained an official identity card, on which they had changed the original photograph for one of their own. Another case revolved around an Italian man who was posing as a doctor who had treated 191 patients and issued 182 prescriptions, but only had a photocopy of a medical degree course.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health confirmed the finding of the fake doctor at Hospital de Sant Joan d’Alacant, but stated that they had not treated, nor attempted to treat any patients. The ministry also praised the official body for their swift action in bringing these cases to a head.
As a result of these cases, the patients association El Defensor del Paciente, has written to the Minister of Health, Leire Pajin, to highlight what they have called “an example of irresponsibility of the administration” and proof that the government “does not monitor or inspect clinical consultations “and have asked for compulsory licensing to mitigate the situation.
Events February 17
1817 – The first gaslit streetlights appeared on the streets of Baltimore, MD. Well done
1876 – Julius Wolff was credited with being the first to can sardines. That seems a bit fishy
1878 – In San Francisco, CA, the first large city telephone exchange opened. It had only 18 phones. That was enough to keep busy
1924 – Swimmer Johnny Weissmuller set a world record in the 100-yard freestyle. He did it with a time of 52-2/5 seconds in Miami, FL. He would make a good Tarzan
1996 – World chess champion Garry Kasparov beat the IBM supercomputer “Deep Blue” in Philadelphia, PA.
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Music Stuff February 17th
1960, Elvis Presley won his first Gold record for the album ‘Elvis’.The King had arrived
1960, The Everly Brothers signed a $1 million (£1.7 million) contract with Warner Brothers Records….and worth every penny
1962, Gene Chandler started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Duke Of Earl.’Where is Earl?
1966, Nancy Sinatra was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’, Frank’s eldest daughters first No.1. A great song with a brilliant bassline
1967, The Beatles started recording a new John Lennon song ‘Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite’ at Abbey Road studio’s, London. John’s lyrics for the song came almost entirely from an antique poster advertising a circus performance scheduled to take place in Rochdale, Lancashire, in February 1843. You see, you can get ideas from anywhere
1968, Diana Ross And The Supremes ‘Greatest Hits’ started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart.They were a bit special
1970, Joni Mitchell announced she was retiring from live performances during a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Joni was on stage again by the end of the year.It’s in your blood and you just have to play…
1971, James Taylor made his TV debut on The Johnny Cash Show. Other guests included Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt and Tony Joe White.What a brilliant line-up
1972, Los Angeles radio station KDAY played two new Rolling Stones tracks non-stop for a day after obtaining stolen tapes from a producer’s home. How stupid…
1979, Blondie scored their first UK No.1 album when ‘Parallel Lines’ started a four-week run at the top of the charts, featuring the singles ‘Heart Of Glass’, ‘Hanging On The Telephone’ and ‘Sunday Girl.’What a brilliant album.
1980, US country singer Kenny Rogers was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Coward Of The County’, his second and last UK chart topper.This song lends itself to parodies
1996, A Platinum American Express card once belonging to Bruce Springsteen was sold for $4,500 (£2,650) at a New York memorabilia sale. The singer had given the expired card to a waiter in a LA restaurant by mistake and let them keep it as a souvenir.What a waste of money
1998, Songwriter Bob Merrill committed suicide aged 77. He wrote ‘How Much Is That Doggie In The Window” and Barbra Streisand’s ‘People.’This was a name I hadn’t known and these were two great songs
2000, John Lennon’s Steinway piano, on which he composed ‘Imagine’, went on display at the Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool, England. The piano was set to be auctioned on the Internet later in the year and was expected to fetch more than £1 million ($1.7 million).I can understand someone paying for this nice piece of furniture
2004, Prosecutors in the murder case of producer Phil Spector demanded that a fingernail overlooked by police investigating Lana Clarkson’s shooting should be put forward as evidence. They claimed the fingernail, blackened with gunpowder, could indicate that the 40- year old actress killed herself at Spector’s Los Angeles mansion. Spector, had denied murdering Clarkson. I never understand these kind of occurrences
2004, Winners at this years Brit awards included…… Duran Duran who won Outstanding Contribution to Music. This was a good comeback but did it last?
2005, A 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar belonging to Jimi Hendrix sold for £100,000 at an auction in London. Other Hendrix items sold included a poem written two weeks after his appearance at the Monterey Festival which went for £10,000 and the first Jimi Hendrix Experience’s single ‘Hey Joe’, signed by all the band sold for £2,000. I was never the biggest Hendrix fan as a DJ but I admire his work more as I work at my guitar playing
2005, Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand made music history after taking two top prizes at the NME Awards. The band, who won best album and best single, became the first act ever to win the Mercury Music Prize, Brit Awards and NME awards in the same year. Not sure how they stack up against the all-time greats
2008, British soul singer Duffy started a five week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Mercy’, from the Welsh singers debut album ‘Rockferry’. ‘Mercy’ was the UK’S best selling single of 2008, and won Duffy a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. I love this track and she is a great singer
Birthday Boys and Girls February 17th:
1905, Orville “Hoppy” Jones, bass singer and cello player with the Ink Spots, who had a 1955 UK No.10 single with ‘Melody Of Love’. He Died 18th October 1944.
1922, Tommy Edwards, singer (1958 US & UK No.1 single with ‘Its All In The Game’). The song was written by US Vice President Charles Dawes. Edwards died on October 22nd 1968, aged 47.
1933, Bobby Lewis, US singer, (1961 US No.1 single ‘Tossin’ and Turnin’).
1939, John Leyton, UK singer, actor, (1961 UK No.1 single ‘Johnny Remember Me’). 1941, Gene Pitney, Pitney was found dead aged 65 in his bed in a Cardiff hotel on 5th April 2006. The American singer was on a UK tour and had shown no signs of illness. Brave’).
1981, Paris Hilton, American socialite, singer, actress and fashion model. Heiress to a share of the Hilton Hotel fortune, featured in the reality TV series, The Simple Life.
