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The staff of costablog would like to take this brief moment to wish everyone who visits the site a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Here’s hoping that Santa Claus brings you everything you want this year – and hopefully nothing that you’ll put at the back of your cupboard and never wear or use.

Also, our writers would like to know – is there anything you have particularly enjoyed reading this year or anything you would to see more of in the future?

May everyone enjoy the festivities and have a great time with their family and friends!

Seasons Greetings
costablog

If you’re one of those people who think that you will never be in a traffic accident, and continuously think “that will never happen to me” you might want to read on…

A study that was recently carried out by the insurance business association UNESPA reveals that an accident involving material damage whilst driving occurs every eight minutes and 51 seconds on Málaga roads, while personal injury is caused in a road accident every one hour and 41 minutes.

These devastating figures mean that unfortunately, Málaga is the Andalusian province where most traffic accidents happen. Read more »

For those who thought the iPad and the iPhone were at the peak of cutting edge technology will certainly consider these ideas out dated when they see what an invention the MicroSD Card Reader Watch is. This fantastic piece of technology – which at first glance looks just like any other ordinary watch – has a built-in card reader with a flip out USB cable for direct connection to a computer with no need for any additional wires or gadgets.

The decidedly James Bond-esque accessory means that gigabytes of data can simply be carried around one’s wrist. The watch has a slick black and steel design, making it aesthetic as well as functional. It is also water resistant, static and shock proof and has an LED status indicator.

Of course, the battery life may get used up faster than a standard watch, despite purporting to have a 3 year battery life – but that’s all relative depending how much it is used. The MicroSD Card Reader Watch is compatible with Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista/7 and Mac.

And if you’re thinking that this technology will set you back a pretty penny, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out it will set you back as little as $16. (11.92€)

Paper-readers are being warned to be on alert for some job advertisements that are appearing in local newspapers promising a monthly income. The seemingly benign job offer actually turns out to be cashing travellers cheques in Spain.

Some women in various parts of Southern Spain who have answered the ads and applied for positions now think they have become victims of a possible scam. And as a result of this, they are now believed to be involved in police investigations.

One such woman – a British expatriate – has been allegedly held and questioned by the Guardia Civil in Almeria. She is alleged to have responded by email to the job ad and was consequently offered commission for encashing travellers cheques at a Spanish bank. The bank in question contacted the authorities to check whether the cheques were authentic, believing them to be highly suspect.

Police have refused to comment on the incidences, however these and other reports have been confimed by usually reliable sources.

A change in the birth registration laws is being planned by Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s socialist government. This new law will instruct registrars to put surnames in alphabetical order, unless the parents specify otherwise.

Traditionally, Spanish people have two surnames at birth: firstly, the father’s and the second is the mother’s. Historically, the father’s name has always gone first and in legal battles, this name would also have priority, however under existing laws either can come first. In addition, Spanish women do not change their surnames when they marry.

Under the rule of Dictator, General Franco, first names had to be chosen from an approved list of Saints. Now, the latest legislation will also spare parents from declaring whether their child was born out of wedlock, a rule which has been mandatory since 1957. Read more »