Boy in a marketing bubble

I AM averse to keeping up with celebrities. I don’t do television; I don’t have one.

I am though fascinated by human behaviour and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo really takes the biscuit when it comes to behavioural problems.

A recent Marie Claire gala was staged to honour 10 award winners. At this sparkling event were those whose claim to fame in terms of benefit to the human race are far superior to his.

He refused to mix with them, demanding his own suite.

The problem with football, or at least our distorted way of putting it on a pedestal higher than we put God, is that it does not make young men; it ruins them. Ronaldo is quoted as saying: ‘If God cannot please everyone then neither can I.’

Men admire his skills on the field but off the field who would change places? He cannot do anything that other young men do; Ronaldo, like Michael Jackson is in a marketing bubble and unable to even go shopping.

I am sure most young men his age; especially those employed are far more content.

Exodus of talent

SPAIN’S youthful elite with other young Europeans are joining in an exodus of talent. Europe is haemorrhaging. It will have a long term effect from which their homelands may never recover.

Between January and September 2011, 50,521 left Spain to seek a better life abroad. This figure is an increase of 36.6 percent on the previous year. The true figure is likely much higher; the numbers leaving for many countries cannot be monitored. I never understood why governments do so little to stem the outflow of talent.

The prestige and awesome power of the United States was created by those who fled their home countries. The prosperity of Australia, Canada and New Zealand was built on the backs of Europe’s emigrants.

Sir Isaac Newton, one of mankind’s greatest thinkers. ‘I can calculate the movement of stars, but not the madness of men.’ Who can argue with that?

Poor little rich girl

ANOTHER prima donna is Spain’s prize-winning novelist Lucia Etxebarria. She claims more of her books are downloaded than sold.

Her latest title, which isn’t doing well, is on sale at €20 so the temptation to do so must be compelling.

I know it is theft; it happens to me too but I reluctantly accept there is little one can be do about it. Lucia Etxebarria is better placed to grin and bear it.

Her comment; ‘I don’t want to work like a black for this,’ demeans her. Whatever she works like she is unlikely to work any harder than other authors who fail to scoop the Planeta Prize currently worth €601,000 or the Primavera prize valued at €200,000.

Poor little rich girl comes to mind. Lucía also has a reputation for illegal use of others work; a court contest action failed.

If I were you, dear, I would hold your tongue and count your blessings.