Spain Trip #10: Barcelona: Olympic Marc and Venice Beach

"Marc" statue by Robert Llimos

Today's blog continues the amazing bike tour of the city and showed us things we just wouldn't see if we were on a bus or walking (because the things are so spread out). Today will talk about  The Olympic Marc and his "Twin" and Barcelona's Venice Beach!

WHAT IS THE OLYMPIC "MARC" - it's actually a statue named for the son of Robert Llimos, the sculptor. Llimos' son passed away so he named the statue in his son's honor. The statue is the figure of a man with splotches of color on him. It stands in a small square called "Parc del Port Olimpic" where the former Olympic Village skyscraper hotel is located. 

WHERE IS MARC'S TWIN? There's an identical statue to "Marc" that is located on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia where the Olympics were held. 

This isn't our pic, but we thought a hot guy on the beach would catch your eye.

THE PRICEY FORMER OLYMPIC VILLAGE SKYSCRAPER - is now a hotel, where rooms are as costly as 14,000 Euro a night!  People like Justin Bieber and Rhianna have stayed there. 

BARCELONA'S VENICE BEACH - If you've been to California, then you've been to Venice beach where bodybuilders workout on the beach. Barcelona has the same set up. There is 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of beach and part of it contains a volleyball area, weights and bars to do pull ups, chin ups, etc. It was created for the Olympics when they came to town (thus, the tie in to the Marc statue). 

NEXT: Barcelona's Amazing Park Ciutadella Fountain and a Mammoth! 

Spain Trip #9: Barcelona Bike Tour: Port Vell and Barcelonta

Port Vell

In today's blog you'll learn about Barcelona's Port Vell and Barceloneta.  When we were on the bike tour, temperatures were in the mid-60s, so it wasn't a beach day! 


WHAT IS PORT VELL - Port Vell is a waterfront harbor in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and part of the Port of Barcelona. When we saw it, it reminded us of Annapolis, Maryland. 
   It was built as part of an urban renewal program prior to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Before this, it was a run-down area of empty warehouses, railroad yards, and factories. 16 million people visit the complex each year .It is now a focal point of the city and tourist attraction, containing the Maremàgnum (a mall containing shops, a multiplex cinema, bars and restaurants),

Dan, David  and Bruce listening to Marit

WHAT IS BARCELONETA?  It's a fisherman's village built in the 1800s on landfill around one part of Port Vell. Barcelonetta is known for it's "cuarts de casa" or "one-quarter sized houses." Each house has about 28 meters squared in space. Because they are close to the port, and accessible to downtown Barcelona, Marit told us that some of them lease for 500 Euros a week!  

UPDATED - The 1992 Olympic Games led to a major clean up of the seafront and, since then, the old neighborhood has gained beaches, sports complexes and renowned restaurants.

WHAT'S ODD ABOUT THE HOUSES? All of the original homes were one story. Additional stories were built a top them to create apartments. We learned that many of them are rented out as "Air B&B" apartments for ridiculous amounts of money and the people that live there are not happy with all the week to week tenants! 

Barcelonetta on a beach day (Cr; barcelonaturisme.com)

NEXT: The Olympic Marc and his "Twin" and Barcelona's Venice Beach

Spain Trip #8: Barcelona Bike Tour: Raval's Wall and Lucky Cat

L to R: Scott, Gary,Doug, Rob, Tom and El Gato

In today's blog we continue on our great bike tour of Barcelona. Marit, our bike tour guide brought us to the Raval neighborhood where we met a special feline. Well, statue... but it has a story. We'll also tell you about the Raval area.

WHO IS EL GATO? - El Gato is a giant cat made out of bronze that has been placed in one of the main squares in the Raval neighborhood. It's in a pedestrian street that's wide enough for vendors. El Gato has become Raval's mascot and the superstition associated with him is that if you rub his whiskers, it will bring you good luck. Marit explained that so many rubbed the whiskers, that they've actually fallen off and had to be replaced/

El Gato

Part of a wall still outside of Raval

WHAT IS THE RAVAL NEIGHBORHOOD?  It's the neighborhood in Barcelona where you'll find the most diverse cultural mix. Immigrants from many countries live together here. Although it's the most diverse, unfortunately, it's also not safe after dark. We learned that there are buildings with no central heating, so trucks sell tanks of propane so people can warm their homes and cook. El Raval is one of the most colorful and lively parts of Barcelona. El Raval is known for having the best bars and restaurants in Barcelona. 


RAVAL HAD A WALL - Walls once circled Barcelona, and the Raval neighborhood was once protected by it.The medieval and modern walls of Barcelona were built as a defense for the city between the 12th and 14th centuries initially by Pere II the Great of Catalonia and Aragon (1276-85).
 They were actually the second and third sets of Barcelona city walls and were built to protect the parts of the city that had grown up outside the original Roman walls of Barcelona. Once they were complete, the walls remained in place for five centuries until most were demolished in the 1850s.

Part of a wall still outside of Raval

Spain Trip #7: Barcelona Bike Tour: Oldest Hospital and a Ghost!

In today's blog of our Spain trip we'll take you along on the city bike tour!  Our guide, Marit, was amazing. She's from the Netherlands and moved to Barcelona. She knew Spanish and the city amazingly well. In this first stop, we'll take you to the oldest hospital in the city, where someone famous died, and where we encountered a ghost!

WHAT IS THE HOSPITAL DE SANT PAU I DE LA SANTA CREU? It an early-16th-century building in Barcelona. It was a hospital and hospice in the past. Today, it is the home of the medical faculty and the Catalan State Library.  It is an Historic and Artistic Landmark of National Interest.

Stairway statue

WHEN BUILT? In 1401 the Council of One Hundred (Concell de Cent), the former government of Barcelona, decided to build the Hospital de la Santa Creu. It was built to bring together 6 city hospitals. Construction and reconstruction continued throughout the centuries. During the 16th and early 17th centuries, one of the four wings was demolished, two more wings were added and another court was built adjacent to the first. 

plaque stating Antoni Guadi died here

WHEN DID IT STOP BEING A HOSPITAL? By the end of the 19th century, the hospital had become outdated because of the growth of the city and advances that had been made in medicine and hygiene, so it was moved to a new site at the Hospital de Sant Pau, built between 1902 and 1930.


WHAT FAMOUS PERSON DIED HERE? A month before the hospital was closed down in 1926, Architect and Artist Antoni Gaudí died here three days after he was hit by a tram. Gaudi had gone mad before he was hit by a tram. He was brought here where he died shortly afterward. You'll learn about Gaudi as we continue with the blogs. Hint: He helped design Europe's most visited Cathedral in Barcelona (which you will see in later blogs). There is a plaque on one of the walls that states that "Antoni Gaudi died here." 

Courtyard entrance where Rob saw the ghost

ROB SENSED A GHOST! Since we both have the ability to sense Earth bound ghosts or spirits (who have crossed over), it was no surprise to me that I sensed a ghost lingering in the courtyard. It was the ghost of a man who was a former patient. He died in the hospital several hundred years ago. The man was standing near the entrance to the courtyard. He passed from a severe fever and was confused when he awoke in the afterlife. He decided to go to the courtyard where he would spend time during his hospital stay, and wound up getting stuck Earthbound as a ghost. He continues to linger in the courtyard today. 

NOW A UNESCO SITE - In 1978 the UNESCO cataloged the new campus of the Hospital de Sant Pau as a World Heritage Site due to its artistic beauty and construction singularity. 

NEXT: Raval's Lucky Cat and Superstition 

Idiots of the Week: 3 Men In Maine Allegedly Tried To Steal A Shed By Dragging It Behind Their Pickup Truck

The large shed these guys were dragging on the road

This week's Idiot of the Week award goes to a gang of three who were apparently on drugs and tried to steal a large shed by dragging it down a street. Here's the story from Boston.com: 

Three men were arrested Sunday after Maine state troopers caught them dragging a stolen shed down a road with a pickup truck, according to state police.

Police got a phone call about the men stealing the structure from a foreclosed property on Pork Street in Lebanon. The troopers then found the men pulling the 25-foot shed with the truck and blocking off half of nearby Heath Road, police said. Police said one of the men had crystal meth and prescription pills without a prescription.

The three men were brought to York County Jail and were held on $5,000 bail, according to police. They’re each charged with theft and will be indicted on charges of reckless conduct and criminal mischief. Thompson will also be indicted on charges of unlawful possession of drugs, police said.

Source: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2018/05/22/maine-shed-theft?s_campaign=Email:BComToday

This Affects YOU: Congress Rolls Back Consumer Banking Protections

Why in the world would they do this? This week, Congress passed a bill that rolls back regulations
adopted after the 2008 financial crisis, weakening consumer protection and “slightly” increasing the risk of another banking collapse. Basically, it allows banks to do the risky lending behavior that brought the U.S. economy to its knees a decade ago (when the housing market crashed).

Here's the story: Congress approves plan to roll back post-financial-crisis rules for banks

By Erica Werner and Renae Merle, May 22 , Washington Post

The House on Tuesday passed a plan to roll back banking regulations passed in response to the 2008 financial crisis, sending the bill to President Trump to sign.

WHAT IT MEANS:    The measure leaves the central structure of the post-financial-crisis rules in place, but it would make the most significant changes to weaken the Dodd-Frank banking regulations since they were passed in 2010. It would exempt some small and regional banks from the most stringent regulations, and also would also loosen rules aimed at protecting the biggest banks from sudden collapse.    (So it puts consumer savings MORE at Risk) . 

The measure is nearly certain to become law after its passing in the House, 258 to 159, on Tuesday with nearly all House Republicans and 33 Democrats voting for it. The Senate approved the bill in March with bipartisan backing, and White House officials said that Trump plans to sign it in the coming days.

The bill’s supporters say it provides needed relief for community and local banks withering under Washington’s regulations. But critics charge it opens the financial system back up to the abuse and risky behavior that brought the U.S. economy to its knees a decade ago — and does so at a time when financial firms are posting record profits.

WHAT IT DOES: Under the bill, banks with more than $50 billion in assets would no longer be automatically subject to the toughest federal regulations, including a yearly stress test to prove they could survive another onslaught of economic turmoil. The bill would raise that threshold to $250 billion in assets, potentially allowing several high-profile financial institutions, including American Express and Ally Financial, to escape the extra regulatory scrutiny.

The legislation would also exempt banks with less than $10 billion in assets from the “Volcker rule,” which bars banks from making certain risky wagers with their own money. Small banks will also be exempted from a Dodd-Frank requirement that they report more detailed data on borrowers. The industry has complained that both regulations are too cumbersome and time-consuming.

Spain Trip #6: La Rambla,a Ghost, Dunkin' and Dogbone Balconies

Our group walking down "La Rambla"

In today's blog of our Spain trip (it was 12 days in early May), we'll take you through a few Barcelona city highlights: the famous "La Rambla" street, a Dunkin' find, and a dog-bone balcony. Sometimes it's the little things that are worth highlighting because most people don't see them to appreciate them.

WHAT IS LA RAMBLA STREET? La Rambla (Catalan pronunciation: [ɫə ˈrambɫə]) is a wide pedestrian street filled with vendors. It's located in central Barcelona and popular with tourists and locals alike. A tree-lined pedestrian mall, it stretches for three-quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometers). The long street forms the boundary between the areas called Barri Gòtic (to the east) and El Raval (to the west.). If you go, you should keep your wallet in your front pocket because of pickpockets.

Dunkin' on La Rambl

FAST FACT- The course of La Rambla was originally a sewage-filled stream-bed! In 1440, the stream was diverted to run outside the new walls, and La Rambla gradually started turning into a street. In 1703, the first of the trees lining La Rambla were planted.

SENSING A GHOST - We both have the ability to sense people (and pets) who have passed. While walking down La Rambla (and not knowing anything about the street), Tom stopped at a vendor flower tent on the southwest side of the street and sensed a man who died on there on the street. It was just north of the Dunkin' Donuts which we found next (as we headed south).

We later learned that La Rambla was the SITE OF A TERRORIST ATTACK - On August 17, 2017, many people were struck by a van deliberately driven down the side walk on La Rambla in a terrorist attack, causing 15 deaths and at least 100 injuries

Dog bone balconies

DUNKIN' FOUND! - Anyone that knows us, knows we love Dunkin' Donuts (known as Dunkin' outside the U.S.A.), so we found a Dunkin' Donuts on La Rambla and Rob had his black, "Cafe Americano" and Tom enjoyed his Iced Tea.

DOGBONE BALCONIES- There's a lot of interesting architecture in Barcelona. Some can be attributed to the architect/artist Antoni Gaudi, but not this one. Located on La Rambla was an apartment or condominium with balconies that looked like dog bones! As we mentioned in Blog #1, Spain is definitely a country that loves dogs, so this wasn't all that surprising.

COMING NEXT WEEK: An Awesome Barcelona Bike Tour!

Spain Trip #5: Arrival in Barcelona, Spain, Upside-Down Staircase & Catalonia

Tom and Rob take a break

In today's blog, we've finally arrived in Barcelona! In today's blog we'll tell you about an upside-down staircase monument and explain what Catalonia is and the political movement behind it. 

BOOKED - We booked the adventure with a company called Detours, which is a gay-oriented travel group that has tours to various "friendly" cities. Once we got to the hotel (and after a wait for our hotel room) we met our  group of 5 other guys: Gary, Scott, Doug, David and Bruce, and our group leader, Dan. After the meet and greet, we got in a 1 hour nap, and took a 2 hour walking tour of Barcelona. 

L to R: Dan, our guide and Doug

WHO IS DAN?  Dan is a really cool guy, who loves traveling. He's like a super-traveler and he speaks Spanish, in addition to being a biologist. He's a Canadian, so we liked him immediately. :) After all, Canadians are good at picking a smart and handsome leader. 
  Dan was extremely resourceful and knew how to get an answer to any question. 
  Our first group activity was a 2 hour walking tour of Barcelona, led by Dan! 

Upside down staircase monument

WHAT IS THE UPSIDE-DOWN STAIRCASE? The upside-down staircase symbolizes the step-by-step construction of Catalonia’s future in Placa de Catalonia.

 WHAT IS CATALONIA? The Catalonia region, in northeastern Spain, is known for the lively beach resorts of Costa Brava as well as the Pyrenees Mountains. Barcelona, the regional capital, has a historic Gothic Quarter, La Rambla pedestrian mall (which we will see in an upcoming blog), museums and several beaches. Antoni Gaudí’s distinctive modern art and architecture (which we will see in an upcoming blog) can be seen at the Sagrada Família Basilica and in the colorful outdoor mosaics of Park Güell (which we will see in an upcoming blog).
Official languages: Catalan, Occitan (Aranese), Spanish, Catalan Sign Language (also recognized)
Provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona
Capital: Barcelona

Fountain in the park of the upside-down staircase

Recently Catalonia tried to declare independence from Spain. It didn't go well. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has dismiss Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his regional ministers after they declared independence in October. 2017. All Catalonian independence politicians were jailed at that time and are STILL in jail, without charges. 
POST A YELLOW RIBBON - People of the region have put up yellow ribbons on their property or clothing or hung the Catalonian flag as a way to protest the holding of those prisoners. 

NEXT: La Rambla, Dunkin' and Dogbone Balconies

Spain Trip #4: Several In-Flight Movie Recommendations

In blog #4 about our Spain trip, we're still talking about the travel to and from vacation, but this one focuses on the movies we watched.  Tom watched several of them that I can't recall. I watched 2 that he didn't watch.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME - This is an award-winning gay, coming of age film and it was well-done.
OUR RANKING: 4 out of 5 Stars
PLOT: Elio, a 17-year-old Jewish-American-Italian youth, lives with his parents in rural Northern Italy. His father, a professor of archaeology, invites a 24-year-old Jewish-American graduate student, Oliver, to live with him and his family over the summer and help with his academic paperwork. Elio, an introspective bibliophile and musical prodigy, initially finds little in common with Oliver, who has a contrastingly carefree and exuberant personality. Elio resents having to give up his bedroom for Oliver for the duration of his stay. He spends much of the summer reading, playing piano, and hanging out with his girlfriend, Marzia. Oliver is meanwhile attracted to one of the local girls, much to Elio's annoyance.
Elio and Oliver begin a seductive courtship: they swim together, go for long walks into town, and accompany Elio's father on an archaeological trip. Elio begins a sexual relationship with Marzia and brags about it in front of Oliver to gauge his reaction, but nonetheless finds himself increasingly attracted to Oliver.

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN - This is a 2017 British biographical drama film about the lives of Winnie-the-Pooh creator A. A. Milne and his family, especially his son Christopher Robin.
TOM'S RANKING 4 out of 5 Stars (Rob didn't watch it)
PLOT: Alan Alexander (A.A.) Milne – nicknamed "Blue" by his friends and family – and his wife Daphne had a son they named Christopher Robin Milne. A.A. suffered from PTSD from being in WW2. Reluctantly at first, A.A. takes his son along on walks in the woods and begins making up stories about the boy's adventures with the stuffed animals the parents have bought for him. Blue invites his illustrator friend Ernest to join them at the house, and together they begin to develop the Winnie-the-Pooh books.


STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI - Episode VIII is a 2017 film written and directed by Rian Johnson. It is the second installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and the eighth main installment of the Star Wars franchise, following Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).
ROB'S RANKING: 2 out of 5 Stars (Tom didn't watch it). WHY? The plot seemed really, really thin. There was a rebel group of space ships that were attacked by the evil empire and all but 1 was destroyed.
PLOT: It's all about getting that 1 ship to safety while a young woman wants to train to be a Jedi under an aged Luke Skywalker (who moved to a deserted island - which is actually on the coast of Ireland's Dingle Peninsula. we know that because we were vacationing in Ireland just after it was filmed there).
NOTE: It was Carrie Fisher's final film before she passed.

Justice League 

JUSTICE LEAGUE - A superhero film from 2017, featuring Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Superman, Aquaman and Cyborg.
ROB'S RANKING 5 out of 5 Stars. (100 times better than those Avengers movies) Of course, I'm totally biased, as these are ALL of my favorite heroes. Every one of the actors did an Amazing job portraying the characters as they are from the comics.
PLOT: In Justice League, the superhero team, consisting of Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Flash (Miller), Aquaman (Momoa), and Cyborg (Fisher) forms to honor the memory of Superman (Cavill) and to save Earth from the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) and his army of Parademons.

NEXT: Arrival in Barcelona

Spain Trip #3: Our Adventures in Traveling to and from Barcelona

Tom and Rob's Adventures in Travel

It's no secret that the worst part of a vacation is traveling there. The anticipation to get where you're supposed to be is always high. The travel we endured to get to Barcelona, Spain, was time consuming and exhausting. In this blog we'll tell you about it, and other things we had to think about! 
  
TAKING CARE OF OUR DOGS - First, a huge thanks to our friend Jeff, who stayed at our house for our 12 day Spain vacation, and took excellent care of our dogs, Dolly, Franklin and Tyler. If you can get a live in house sitter (who bakes dessert for your return as Jeff did for ours), do it. It's better for the dogs. (Since 2 of our dogs are elderly and on several medications, this was important). 

We also hired a local pet sitter business called "Quality Time Pet Sitters" in Maryland to come in during the middle of the day when Jeff was at work. They let our kids, and Jeff's dog Myrtle out in the fenced in yard. They cleaned up after the dogs and gave them fresh water and treats. They also left daily notes. 

L to R: Franklin, Tyler, Dolly and Myrtle (Jeff's dog)

WE'RE "LYFT" OFF - We hired a LYFT driver to take us to the airport instead of parking. It's a good thing we did because when we returned, we had been wide awake for 24 hours and were really way too tired to drive... so we had LYFT pick us up, too. Highly recommend it.

DELTA and AIR FRANCE - Our tickets were out of BWI  (Baltimore/Washington Airport) and through Delta, who is the only one that works with Air France. Although the crews on ALL of our flights were great, the seats on a couple of the Delta flights and the Air France flight flying to Europe, were uncomfortable because they had been tamped down by heavy passengers. In fact, some felt like sitting on cardboard on a concrete floor. Not good for the tailbone!

3 FLIGHTS EACH WAY - Why Delta decided to fly us to Atlanta, then Paris, then Barcelona, we don't know. Regardless, both going and coming it took 23 and 24 hours respectively. And because the seats in "Premium Economy" were not comfortable enough to sleep, we didn't for an entire DAY each way. *The airline told us that if we flew out of Dulles we could fly direct to Paris and change. However, if you live in Maryland, it's closer to drive to Philadelphia than to Dulles, Virginia because of the intense traffic on the Washington, DC Beltway (so we hate Dulles). 

On the ground in Barcelona

BAG CHECK NOTE: Going from the Baltimore to Atlanta to Paris to Barcelona, our luggage went all the way through. Of course we had to go through customs and back through security. Coming back, however, we had to get our luggage in Atlanta, go through customs and security and re-check the bags. 

GATES ALWAYS THE FARTHEST- It's always the way. The connecting gate is always the farthest it can be from where you land. That's how it was in Atlanta. We arrived from Baltimore at the "A" gate and flew out of the "F" gate, so we had to ride the airport subway.  Coming back, same thing. Arrived at the "F" gate, had to go through customs, and dash all the way to the "A" gate, AND the gate we needed was down at the VERY END of the terminals. 

NEXT: Catching up on Flight Movies

Spain Trip #2: Amazing Labor-Intensive Architectural Detail!

note the curved brick

Today's blog about our trip to Spain focuses on Tom's forte: Architecture and the detail that went into some of the structures on Spain. 

Tom said: "This all-brick building anchors the Triana (city) side of the Puente Isabella Bridge. The other side of the bridge connects to the city of Sevilla, Spain. This structure was built in 1927. It is apparent that the cost of labor was not a factor in its construction.

TOM'S OBSERVATIONS - The facade is comprised of dozens of special shaped bricks. Each one requiring a wood mold. The wood would have to be carved in reverse of what is needed. They were carved with exacting precision to produce the desired outcome. Think of the knowledge, patience, measurements and talent it takes to carve out wooden blocks to make a mold to make each brick!

Amazing brick work

NEXT: Our Adventures in Traveling

The tower all made from handmade bricks

handmade bricks on the tower

2 Idiots of the Week: Missouri Governor, and Rep. Farenthold

It's a 2 for 1 Special on "Idiot of the Week" because there are always more than one!

Here's the scoop on this week's "Winners"

1) EMBATTLED MISSOURI GOV. ERIC GREITENS BRACING FOR IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS
By ABC news: ALEX PEREZ ANDY FIES May 18, 2018
The scandal-plagued saga that has surrounded Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ tenure is about to enter a new chapter. On Friday, May 18,  legislators at the state capitol in Jefferson City called to order a special 30-day session to begin impeachment proceedings against the embattled head of the Show-Me State. But expect the impeachment process to be slow.
  A special investigative committee in the house has already released two ruinous reports against Greitens. The first details accusations made by a woman with whom he was having an affair. She said he threatened and mistreated her. The second report focuses on allegations that Greitens wrongfully obtained a charity donor list to fundraise for political purposes.

2) WHY REP. BLAKE FARENTHOLD (R-TEXAS) SO ABRUPTLY RESIGNED "The House Ethics Committee was about to rule against Farenthold in its investigation into whether he sexually harassed members of his staff, used official money for campaign purposes and lied in previous testimony to the committee, according to the office of Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.).  He used $84,000 in taxpayer money to settle a previous sexual harassment lawsuit.  The Texas Republican promised in December that he would pay back that money immediately, but he never did.
Source; https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/06/blake-farenthold-retire-congress/

Great Mystery! Murder She Wrote: Hook, Line and Murder

During our vacation to Spain last week, we got to do a lot of reading because of 3 connecting flights
to get there, and get home. One of the books I thoroughly enjoyed was the latest paperback mystery in the "Murder She Wrote" series (based on the tv show):  "Hook Line and Murder," by Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain and Renee Paley-Bain.  
  The book was fast moving like the other 30 or so in the series, and a great read. There turned out to be 2 murders in the story, one old and one new. The characters were vivid and easy to picture in your mind, and of course, the main cast from the 1980s-1990s TV show were all in the book, too. The mystery will keep you guessing and there's a mystery in a mystery!  Another 5 star Murder She Wrote mystery!  - Rob

ABOUT THE BOOK:  The USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote mystery series continues as Jessica Fletcher takes a relaxing getaway that turns into a reel deadly situation...

Jessica enters a fly-fishing competition at a nearby lake. Joining her is the sheriff’s wife, Maureen Metzger, who surprises Jess with her enthusiasm for the sport. Their guide, however, is a surprise to both...

Brian Kinney is an ex-con. Jailed as an accomplice to Darryl Jepson, a convicted killer, Brian was later exonerated, but not before spending seven years behind bars. He seems like a decent enough fellow. Just a man trying to rebuild his life as a family man and fishing guide. 

Yet when Jepson breaks out of prison vowing revenge, and the lawyer for both men is found murdered, Cabot Cove becomes the focus of the nation as local, state, and federal authorities descend on Jessica’s hometown. And to add to the tension, Maureen has gone missing. Is she lost or is she a hostage? Jess soon finds herself caught in a netful of lies, deceit and ulterior motives. In order to save her friend, she’ll need to find some answers by hook or by crook..

Spain Trip#1: Dogs in Spain: Pampered or Homeless

This is first of what will be many blogs

Dog walk in a Seville square

 about our 4 major city tour of Spain. Since we are dog dads and dog rescuers I thought I would bring attention to the treatment of dogs throughout the areas we visited.

A pampered dog

PAMPERED - Spain is definitely a dog loving country. So many people walk their dogs and so many shops allow dogs inside. There are a number of dog shops and people have nice collars, leashes and harnesses for their dogs. Most are responsible and pick up after their dogs.

We did see one Weimaraner and 2 Dachshunds which is coincidental as that's the same as our kids.

Dachshund in Seville hotel

HOMELESS - there are also a number of homeless men and women who have dogs. We don't understand that and find it extremely disconcerting. We assume the people can go to a shelter to get care for themselves but wonder about the dogs. We gave several money or food but of course that doesn't solve the problem.

LOCAL INTERVIEW - I stopped a resident of Granada, Spain and asked why homeless people have dogs and she said she didn't know and it is common. She said perhaps people will give money if someone has a dog. It's a sad situation for the dogs and the people.

Spain Trip Blog #2 continues on Monday (and will run weekdays)

A Must Read: A Higher Loyalty by James Comey

I just finished reading the book called a

higher loyalty by former FBI director James Comey. As it turns out it was well worth the read.

  DEBATED BUYING IT - I must say that I had mixed feelings about buying the book because I honestly feel like his revelation about the extra Hillary Clinton emails found on Anthony Weiner's laptop, cost her the election and left us with the disaster that we now have. However I wanted to get his side of the story and I am glad I bought the book and read it.
   Comey has worked for several presidents, and explained the struggle he went through about revealing the email situation. He also explained that they did not have enough on the Trump - Russia collusion to talk about it, and that the Obama Administration was hesitant to put out any notice about the Russian interference because it may influence the election. Either way, it did and we wound up with Trump. The book also explores some of the big cases in his history including Martha Stewart, and his prosecution of mob cases. The last chapter is about his dealings with Donald Trump, and they are the most scathing assessment of This president's character. Well worth the read.
  Following is the book summary from amazon.com that will give you more detail.

Product description

In his book, former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.

Mr. Comey served as director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama. He previously served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. deputy attorney general in the administration of President George W. Bush. From prosecuting the Mafia and Martha Stewart to helping change the Bush administration's policies on torture and electronic surveillance, overseeing the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation as well as ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey has been involved in some of the most consequential cases and policies of recent history.

News You Don't Hear: 3 Kansas Right-Wing Extremists Guilty In Terror Plot Against Muslim Refugees

Here's some news you may not have heard:  Three right-wing militiamen from rural Kansas were found guilty on April 18 in a 2016 plot to slaughter Muslim refugees. Attorneys argued the Trump-backing trio were radicalized by “chaos news,” and wrongfully targeted by the feds for “locker room talk.” Story below from the NY Times:

From left, Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright and Patrick Stein, who are charged with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction. CreditSedgwick County Sherriff's Office, via Associated Press

 3 Kansas Right-Wing Extremists Guilty In Terror Plot Against Muslim Refugees

NY TIMES  April 18, 2018 

WICHITA, Kan. — Federal jurors convicted three men on Wednesday of plotting to blow up an apartment complex where Somali refugees live and pray in Garden City, Kan. The domestic terrorism verdict came at a time when threats against religious and racial minorities are rising nationally, and the case drew interest from the highest levels of the Justice Department.

“The defendants in this case acted with clear premeditation in an attempt to kill people on the basis of their religion and national origin,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. “That’s not just illegal — it’s immoral and unacceptable, and we’re not going to stand for it.”

The men, Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright and Patrick Stein, all of whom are white, appeared stoic as the verdicts were read at the federal courthouse in Wichita. Defense lawyers had tried to convince jurors that their clients were manipulated by the F.B.I., and had been unfairly targeted for exercising their rights to own guns and speak freely.

“He was a member of a militia. He loved his guns. This was a lifestyle,” Melody Brannon, a lawyer for Mr. Allen, told the mostly white jury. “The government tried to criminalize that lifestyle.”

The trial, which played out over about a month, focused on a period before the 2016 presidential election when a paid F.B.I. informant infiltrated a militia group that included the three men and secretly recorded hours of their conversations.

The 3 men were motivated by Trump's anti-muslim talk

Politics were front and center throughout the trial, with defense lawyers portraying the F.B.I. as a bullying-government force that used its informant to steer their clients from hateful speech to violent plotting. The courtroom critiques of the F.B.I. came after a series of condemnations of the bureau by President Trump, who overwhelmingly carried Kansas in 2016.

Prosecutors, who built much of their case around the informant’s secret recordings, said that the men planned to carry out the bombing on Nov. 9, 2016, a day after voters selected a president.

“They wanted to send a message to the people living there that they’re not welcome in Garden City, they’re not welcome in southwest Kansas, they’re not welcome in the United States,” Tony Mattivi, a federal prosecutor, said during closing arguments.

The men, who called themselves “the Crusaders,” were arrested about four weeks before Election Day and charged with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy against rights, which the Justice Department considers a hate crime. Mr. Wright was also charged with lying to the F.B.I. The three men were found guilty on all counts and face up to life in prison when they are sentenced in June.

The trial came amid a national escalation in threats against religious and racial minorities, especially Muslims, according to the F.B.I. and organizations that monitor hate crimes.

“It is now approaching the level of hate violence against the same communities that we saw in the immediate wake of the 9/11 attacks,” said Suman Raghunathan, executive director of SAALT: South Asian Americans Leading Together, a national advocacy organization.

Ifrah Ahmed, a Somali resident of Garden City, said she found out about the verdicts when the police chief sent her a text message. Ms. Ahmed said she relayed the news to elders in the Somali community.

“I had faith that they were going to do what was right,” Ms. Ahmed said of the jurors. “Now we can all actually move on from it and bury it and know that justice is served.”

Prosecutors portrayed the Kansas defendants as aspiring domestic terrorists who planned to bomb the Somali apartments only after considering other attacks — on elected officials, churches that helped refugees and landlords who rented to immigrants.

Defense lawyers suggested that their clients had merely engaged in idle talk inspired partly by the 2016 election.

Stephen R. McAllister, the top federal prosecutor in Kansas, said the verdict showed the jury approved of the bureau’s tactics despite defense lawyers mounting what he described as “an attack on the F.B.I. itself.”

“The jury’s verdicts in this case are a vindication of outstanding investigative work and prosecution,” said Mr. McAllister, who was named to his post by Mr. Trump. “Terrorists, whether foreign or domestic, must be stopped and punished.”

The jury of six men and six women deliberated for about seven hours over two days.

The case forced jurors to decide when hateful rhetoric escalated from legal speech to evidence of a violent plot. Expletive-filled recordings of the men played before the jury contained repugnant, bigoted language, the defense lawyers said, but not a federal crime.

“It is not morally right to hold such hate, but it is not legally wrong,” said James Pratt, a lawyer for Mr. Stein, who acknowledged that his client referred to Muslims as “cockroaches.” Mr. Stein referred to himself, the recordings showed, as an “Orkin man,” referencing the pest extermination company.

“We all have the right to hate,” Mr. Pratt added.

Mr. McAllister rejected the suggestions of a First Amendment infringement.

“I don’t view this as a prosecution of speech at all,” Mr. McAllister said. “This was a prosecution of speech coupled with actions.”

Still, defense lawyers emphasized that no bombing took place, and no one was physically injured. They said the men lacked the ability or commitment to carry out such an attack. Mr. Pratt said his client was “all hat, no cattle,” meaning he was a big talker and little more.

“Unfortunately for Patrick,” Mr. Pratt said, “the government was willing to provide the cattle.”

Garden City is a racially diverse place about 200 miles west of Wichita with around 27,000 residents. Many Somalis and other immigrants have moved to the area to work at a nearby meatpacking plant.

The apartment complex that prosecutors say was targeted is a center of Somali life in Garden City. Many refugee families live in units of the complex; others come to pray in a makeshift mosque inside one unit.

Moussa Elbayoumy, who chairs the board of the Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the verdict affirmed his faith in the justice system.

“The instance was troubling, was concerning. People were afraid,” Mr. Elbayoumy said in a phone interview. “But after that, they put this behind them and moved on with their lives.”

Laurie Goodstein contributed reporting from New York.

A version of this article appears in print on April 19, 2018, on Page A20 of the New York edition with the headline: Verdict Is Guilty for Men In Plot to Bomb Migrants. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe