We can all agree that weather forecasts are a little off at the best of times, but today it must be said that the 30ºC being reported on many weather stations feels more like 35ºC. To be fair, though, this could be due to the high levels of humidity rather than a satellite malfunction. It is also being reported that a new, more persistent heat wave is set to hit Catalunya, amongst other Comunidades Autonomas. Great.
Several of Barcelona's neighbourhoods have kicked off their Festa Majors, not least of which is that of Gràcia, whose residents are taking advantage of the occasion to spread messages of optimism and solidarity. Optimism which, if you look at the papers lately, is in short supply.
Stories of solidarity and charity, such as this one, are few and far between these days and it's unsurprising then that 56% of Spaniards are reluctant to read the papers or turn on the news. Aware of the lack of happy-endings, the blogosphere has reacted with the creation of websites which focus only on Buenas Noticias, or good news. Finally we can all go back to living as 5-year-olds and scream "I'm not listening" at anything we don't like the sound of.
Two days ago I discussed some of the ways Barcelona is keeping up with its status as the mobile telephone capital of the world. One of the new schemes involves a smartphone app which allows commuters to alert staff on the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) to antisocial behaviour. However, while this may deter some miscreants from dropping their chewing gum on the platforms of the thoroughly antiquated FGC, I can't help but feel uncomfortable at the thought of turning commuters against each other. Not only would we become anonymous informants for otherwise absent security staff, but the idea that this system could replace the few guards that are around is a real concern. Perhaps this is a step too close to a Big Brother society. Or perhaps the chance to vote someone off the train is one we can all welcome. Let us know what you think.