I know it's a few days late, but I wanted to congratulate Spain on its historic victory! I think there's an important symbolic subtext to having Spain score such a dramatic win not only over the Netherlands but all other European countries as well (not to mention the US).
I know it might be a surprise coming from me, but I was really hoping the US would win this one. We're the best at so many other things, but never the things where I want to see us succeed. At least we managed to make it into the top ranks, though that hardly seems like an achievement given our enormous advantages in this arena.
Oh, right, I guess I should give you the link and an excerpt:
Spain has opened the world's largest solar power station, meaning that it overtakes the US as the biggest solar generator in the world. The nation's total solar power production is now equivalent to the output of a nuclear power station.
Spain is a world leader in renewable energies and has long been a producer of hydro-electricity (only China and the US have built more dams). It also has a highly developed wind power sector which, like solar power, has received generous government subsidies.
The new La Florida solar plant takes Spain's solar output to 432MW, which compares with the US output of 422MW.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
I thought to myself, "that's an odd segue from football to solar power generation". Then I finished the post and realised that I had been a victim of cynical bait-and-switch tactics.
On topic: I drove from Barcelona to Logroño a couple of summers ago with my uncle and was flabbergasted with the amount of wind farms and solar farms in Spain's interior, some very obviously mid-construction. Coming from another European country which shall remain nameless (*cough* Ireland *cough*) where the idea of a day without wind is mind-wrenching I was ashamed and amazed. All it takes is the political will.
Posted by: NotErrolFlynn | Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 11:12 AM
I'm glad someone got it; I was aiming for subtlety, but it looks like I may have shot right on past it to near-total inscrutability.
Posted by: John Caruso | Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 11:20 AM
It must be that damned socialist government they have.
Posted by: cemmcs | Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Haha! You really had me going, right up to the excerpt...I was thinking when did you get all US-cheerleading-sportified?!
Posted by: gfod | Friday, July 16, 2010 at 09:30 AM
I do not support the colonialist's powers victory over its former colony, never have, never will.
Posted by: bilejones | Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 06:02 PM