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- After 15 years of boom Spanish consumers (like British and American)have lost touch the simple facts of economics - income 19€ expenditure 20€ - result penury- eventually. Stop spending more than you get! ECB rate hike deals further blow to Spaniards, 05/07/2008 09:41
- Dear Editor,
Something that amazed me through the news these last weeks is that nobody highlighted the health advantages of the smoking ban and how many lives of passive smokers such as bar waiters might be solved. All the talk is about the poor smokers and their lost of freedom...
I used to be a smoker so I know the subject from both sides. I always made sure that I was annoying nobody when smoking, even if it meant going outside. There is a French motto stating that personal freedom stops where others' freedom starts.
2 years ago my wife became pregnant. We were shocked to discover that NOBODY care. Many times when staying in restaurants we have seen people sitting next to us (e.g. arriving AFTER us)and lighting their cigarettes even without asking if the smoke was a problem for us. If we were unhappy, it was to us to move away. No need to say that we stopped frequenting bars very quickly as well.
Dutch people are usually great and nice. But when it comes to smoking and to a few other of what we consider as basic politeness rules (such as holding doors or thanking when you give way), they are among the worst. Go everywhere else, including in my own country known for its limited respect of rules: smokers respect pregnant women and babies. Very seldom here.
So maybe are we the only ones but all foreigners I know around us are very happy that finally smoking is banned from public places and restaurants in The Netherlands! Our only wonder is how much the law will be respected...
Kind Regards, Christophe Cognard
PS: Anyway we agree that banning smoking in Coffee Shops is completely stupid, except if you wish to close them. Dutch smoking ban spells disaster for 'coffee shops', 05/07/2008 08:42 - I have to agree with Pauline, as well. I have never subscribed to any english language, periodicals nor newspapers since we moved here 11 years ago. I have subscribed to a number of french ones, however, and it has been a tremendous help in learning the language Comfort Food for Expat, 05/07/2008 12:13
- How can you title this article "Magic Mud" and then subtitle a section "Scientific Proof?" Science is not magic.
I understand that this is just a cultural magazine. And it's interesting to read about and see photos of mud baths. But please refrain from giving medical advice. "That makes the immune system better." What does that mean? That is a meaningless statement. Say that fun mud baths reduce stress but don't just copy whatever's written on the brochure for the company you're doing PR for.
Magic mud, 04/07/2008 11:21 - Looks like alcohol is more dangerous than magic mushrooms, ain't it? Dutch girl jumps to her death, 04/07/2008 10:36
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