Great Regional Paranormal Book:The Granny Curse and Other Ghosts and Legends from East Tennessee

As a paranormal investigator and someone who,loves Tennessee, I just finished reading the best book I have ever read about Tennessee hauntings. "The Granny Curse and other Ghosts and Legends from East Tennessee" is an extremely well-written and researched book by Randy Russell and Janet Barnett that is filled with short and fascinating stores.
I can't recommend this book enough! - And it doesn't matter where you live. These are ghost stories you'll find fascinating and will hold your attention. 5 out of 5 stars!

To Get the Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Granny-Curse-Ghosts-Legends-Tennessee/dp/0895871858

ABOUT THE BOOK: Witches who fly down chimneys. A chair that won’t release its occupant until a drop of blood stains the floor. A mountain that grew―and continues to grow―from the grave of a woman who was larger than life. The ghost of a woman who jumps on the bumpers of cars driving past the graveyard where she is buried. An apple tree that growls at people who pick its fruit. A woman who rose from her grave each night to get food for a baby born to her after she was buried. A peach tree that grows on the head of a deer. These and other legends and ghost stories handed down for generations are contained in this collection of 25 tales from East Tennessee.

For several years, folklorists Randy Russell and Janet Barnett have taught a course about Southern folklore at the North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Russell is also the author of several mysteries, including Edgar Award nominee Hot Wire.They live in Asheville, North Carolina.

Spain Blog #61: Welcome to Sitges!

Tom and Rob at the Sitges Beach

In today's Spain blog, we'll introduce you to a beach town called Sitges. You'll learn some of the basics in this blog and in the next blog we'll take you to the Bacardi factory museum. Here, though, you'll learn about what makes Sitges popular (other than the Gin and Tonics that Tom and Gary enjoyed)! 

Stiges Beach

During our 2 day stay in Sitges, the temperatures were only in the 60s (Fahrenheit) so it was too cool to sit on the beach. I (Rob) even wore a sweatshirt one day.

WHERE IS SITGES? Sitges is a coastal town in Spain's Catalonia region, southwest of Barcelona, backed by the mountainous Parc Natural del Garraf. Located just 30 minutes south of Barcelona, Sitges has been described as the Saint-Tropez of Spain thanks to its glitzy beach crowd and lively nightlife.

Stiges Beach

SAW A COMMERCIAL FILMING - When we visited, there was a commercial being filmed on the beach. There were trailer trucks
and techs set up lights, a dinner table, and brought bottles of wine so we assume that was the topic of the spot. 

Stiges Beach filming a commercial

LGBT FRIENDLY, BEACHES, HORROR FESTIVAL - Sitges is renowned for its LGBT-friendly atmosphere as well as its world-famous horror film festival, Sitges has plenty to offer visitors. It's known for its Mediterranean beaches and seafront promenade lined with grand mansions. The compact old town and surrounding streets are filled with shops, restaurants, and many gay bars and nightclubs.

Two places we didn't get to were the Maricel Museum and Cau Ferrat Museum that showcase Catalan and other Spanish art.

Tom at Church of Sant Bartomeu & Santa Tecla

THE CATHEDRAL - Although the Church of Sant Bartomeu & Santa Tecla was closed when we visited, we did stop for a picture of it. It's on a hill that overlooks two beaches. It is between the beaches of Playa de la Fragata and Playa de San Sebastian, so it can be seen from many locations. It's located at Plaça de l'Ajuntament, 20, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain.

NEXT: The Bacardi factory museum
  

Spain Blog #60: Seville: The Abandoned World Expo Site

The abandoned expo globe

In today's blog about our trip to Spain, we'll take you on a bike tour of the remains of Seville, Spain's Expo '92.

In our DETOURS vacation, our great tour guide, Dan Clarke arranged for bicycle rentals and he took us to the abandoned
Expo 1992. For urban explorers, it’s the kind of fascinating modern decay.

Abandoned expo rail station

ABOUT THE EXPO - Opening in April, 1992, Expo ’92 was Spain’s way of showing off all it had accomplished in the 1980s. Expo buildings covered many acres of La Isla de La Cartuja in Seville and over one hundred countries were represented, including many massive pavilions. 

OPEN FOR 6 MONTHS - 41 million people visited over the 6 months it was open. Most, but not all, the pavilions were demolished. Many other facilities remain, gathering dust and weeds and rust.

Cartuja 93, a tech and research park

PART OF IT IS IN USE - Cartuja 93, a tech and research park, occupies much of the land that was Expo ‘92. This makes exploring the area a fascinating mix of new buildings and aging leftover exhibits. The monorail track is gone, though stations remain, now just oddities taking up space in parking lots for those that work in Cartuja 93.

A Dunkin stop after bike riding

A "NASA ROCKET" - We found it interesting that a "NASA Rocket" exhibit was actually a column of painted concrete. It was painted white to resemble a rocket, although weather exposed the cement! 
  
 MORE PHOTOS - Forbes.com provided a full article about it: https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreymorrison/2015/10/19/seville-spains-expo-92/ 


NEXT: WELCOME TO SITGES!

News you may have Missed!

In case you missed these stories in the news over the last 2 weeks,  we wanted to make sure you saw them!
1) Sword wielder attacks Ice Cream Truck
2) Maine Tells PETA Hands off our Lobsters
3) Trump Speechwriter Attends Conference Featuring White Nationalists
4) Heathrow Airport LONG passport clearance waits
5) FL Political Candidate Admits She Lied that she has a degree
6) White House to Sell off Utah National Monument land (8/16/18)
7) 2 New Amazon Prime Shows we will watch

ONLY IN THE UK - ICE CREAM VAN ATTACKED BY MAN BRANDISHING SAMURAI SWORD 
A man who attacked an ice cream van and threatened its owner with a Samurai sword in front of "screaming" children has been jailed. Jamie Tickle was drunk and high on cocaine when he climbed into the van and waved the sword as a woman was serving three children on 1 July.

A MAINE NEWSPAPER ISN’T HAVING PETA’S ANTI-LOBSTER-EATING CAMPAIGN
On Twitter, PETA said the Maine Anti-Lobster Eating campaign urges people at the airport “to see lobsters as the individuals they are.” The Portland Press Herald newspaper editorial board is unequivocal in its opinion of PETA's attempt to get people to stop eating lobster: "Nice try, but move along."
 TRUMP SPEECHWRITER ATTENDS CONFERENCE FEATURING WHITE NATIONALISTS
Trump speechwriter was fired last week because of media inquiries about his appearance at a conference featuring prominent white nationalists. Darren Beattie was terminated after the White House learned he had appeared on a panel with British white nationalist Peter Brimelow at the 2016 Mencken Club conference in the Baltimore area, CNN reported. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremists, called the conference a gathering of “white nationalists and pseudo-academic and academic racists.” The theme of the 2016 event was “The Right Revisited.”  VIDEO REPORT: https://youtu.be/dVsJOx2IZ00

HEATHROW AIRPORT PASSPORT QUEUES REACH 2.5 HOURS

Delays at Heathrow Airport passport control left passengers queuing for up to two and a half hours in July 2018, figures show.  The government said it would send 200 extra staff to Heathrow this summer.  According to the data, the longest immigration queues were on 6 July when travellers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) - an area made up of 31 European countries - had to wait in line for up to two hours and 36 minutes.

*CAUGHT IN THE ACT-  GOP CANDIDATE ADMITS FAKING DIPLOMA Republican candidate Melissa Howard, who is running for office in Florida, has admitted she faked her university diploma — but said on 8-10-18 she will not exit the race. Howard is seeking the GOP nomination for an open seat in the Florida House of Representatives’ 73rd District. UPDATE ON 8-15-18: FAKE DIPLOMA CANDIDATE DROPS OUT GOP candidate Melissa Howard has finally dropped out of the race for the Florida state House after admitting she faked her diploma.

WHITE HOUSE TO SELL OFF UTAH MONUMENT LAND The Trump administration is considering transferring or selling more than 1,600 acres of federal land that until recently was protected as part of Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. [HuffPost]


HERE ARE 2 of THE FIVE BEST AMAZON PRIME ORIGINAL SERIES OF 2018 SO FAR.
ONE FOR TOM:
“A Very English Scandal”
 Premise: A secretly gay British politician has a fling with a man in the 1960s. This romantic partner ultimately threatens to reveal the love affair, which would ruin the politician’s career. The politician uses increasingly desperate measures to try to make this problem disappear. (The show is a dramatization of the real Thorpe affair, between the politician Jeremy Thorpe and his lover, Norman Josiffe.)

ONE FOR ROB: 
THE TICK
Premise: Superheroes and super-villains have invaded Earth, creating a warped normalcy. As a child,
the protagonist became famous for witnessing a super-villain kill his father and his city’s superhero team (major cities have superhero teams). Now a young man, the protagonist still suffers from the trauma of this moment and has visions others can’t see. He befriends a superhero that may or may not be in his mind. Together, the duo tries to destroy the super-villain that killed his father.

Spain Blog #59: Plaza de Espana Part 2: Amazing Tile Work

A mural of a region in Spain, done in tile

In today's blog, we're still exploring the Plaza de Espana in Seville, Spain. This blog focuses on a number of tiles panoramas depicting the regions in Spain.

The tile work is intricate and amazing and there are so many of them. In addition to tile murals depicting some scene that is relevant to each region, there are also maps of the regions done in tiles next to them.

Regional map in tile

The photos speak for themselves. 

FILM FACTS: The Plaza de España has been used as a filming location, including scenes for the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. The building was used as a location in the Star Wars movie series Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) — in which it featured in exterior shots of the City of Theed on the Planet Naboo. It also featured in the 2012 film The Dictator.

Barcelona's Mural

NEXT: The Abandoned World Expo
Site on our Bike Tour

Caceres Mural

Cadiz's Mural

Hercules! 

Spain Blog #58: Plaza de Espana Part 1: The Amazing Layout!

Tom and Rob on the steps of Plaza de Espana

In this blog we'll show you an amazing highlight in the City of Seville called the "Plaza de Espana" or the Plaza of Spain. This blog will provide some history and show you the layout and the structure. The next blog will feature amazing tile work.

Tom and Gary

WHAT IS IT? The Plaza de España is a plaza in the Parque de María Luisa, in Seville, Spain, built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929

WHERE IS IT? Av de Isabel la Católica, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

TYPES OF ARCHITECTURE HIGHLIGHTED: It is a landmark example of the Regionalism Architecture, mixing elements of the Renaissance Revival and Moorish Revival (Neo-Mudéjar) styles of Spanish architecture.

Plaza de Espana

WHY WAS IT BUILT? The Plaza de España, designed by Aníbal González, was a principal building built on the Maria Luisa Park's edge to showcase Spain's industry and technology exhibits.

Plaza from the west side

THE DESIGN OF THE PLAZA DE ESPANA - González combined a mix of 1920s Art Deco and Spanish Renaissance Revival, Spanish Baroque Revival and Neo-Mudéjar styles. The Plaza de España complex is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running around the edge accessible over the moat by numerous bridges representing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain. In the center is the Vicente Traver fountain. By the walls of the Plaza are many tiled alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain.

Schematic for the Plaza

WHAT'S THERE NOW? Today the Plaza de España mainly consists of Government buildings. The central government departments, with sensitive adaptive redesign, are located within it. The Plaza's tiled Alcoves of the Provinces are backdrops for visitors portrait photographs, taken in their own home province's alcove. Towards the end of the park, the grandest mansions from the fair have been adapted as museums. The farthest contains the city's archaeology collections. The main exhibits are Roman mosaics and artifacts from Italy.

Columns focusing on a fountain 

Wide view of the Plaza

Gary and Tom

From the plaza's water feature

View from Water Feature

Gary

NEXT: A CLOSEUP OF THE TILEWORK AND REGIONS OF SPAIN

Idiots of the Week: Suffering Conservative Farmers

Wisconsin Dairy Farmer hurting from tariffs

   Farmers of all kinds are being hurt by the President's Tariffs. From dairy farmers to vegetable farmers to lobster farmers. Some understand that President Trump is solely to blame. Others... well... When someone cuts your paycheck and makes it hard to pay your bills, or if you're a business owner and you take losses by the $100,000s -wouldn't you blame the person responsible for it, especially if the pay cut happened because they thought it "helpful to the country" (and it isn't)?   Well, Farmers in Illinois don't blame Pres. Trump for their massive income losses as a result of his tariffs. 

   You'll also read how Lobster Tariffs are a massive threat to Maine's economy.  STORY>>>


STORY ON LOBSTERS: China’s threatened tariff on lobster from U.S. has Maine’s industry on edge
It could put lobstermen at a price disadvantage of as much as 45% in their biggest overseas market, threatening a drop-off in sales that would ripple across the state's economy.
BY PENELOPE OVERTONSTAFF WRITER, PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
The Maine lobster industry is reeling at the prospect of losing its biggest overseas market.
Industry leaders warn that a proposed 25 percent Chinese tariff on U.S. lobster exports will drive U.S. lobster prices down, causing untold harm to an industry that was counting on China to offset market losses in Europe caused by a trade deal between Canada and the European Union. When the American lobster industry hurts, Maine’s economy does.
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/06/19/chinas-proposed-tariff-on-u-s-lobster-has-maine-industry-on-edge/


HERE'S STORY ON FARMERS AND DEVASTATING TARIFFS: Trump’s Tariffs Are Badly Hurting Farmers. Many Still Won’t Blame Him
SHERRARD, Illinois ― Krista Swanson is a fifth-generation farmer. So is her husband. They have three young daughters who they hope that, one day, will be the family’s sixth generation of corn and soybean growers.

That dream is looking dim right now. Here in central Illinois ― the number one soybean-producing state ― grain farmers have lost a whopping 20 to 25 percent of the value of their crops since March, when President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced $60 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports. China, which buys the bulk of U.S. soybean exports, responded in April with a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans.

When Trump followed up in May with more tariffs, this time on trading partners like Canada and Mexico, Swanson watched the value of her crops plummet.

“You actually lose every day,” said Swanson, a member of the Knox County Farm Bureau. “You’re still paying to go to work and back, and make and buy lunch, but you’re losing money. Who would want to keep doing that, you know?”

For some context on the severity of the situation, Swanson said in March the average central Illinois grain farmer expected a net income of about $35,000 this year. Those farms are now “substantially” in the negative, she said.

Yet, asked if she’s angry at Trump for starting a trade war and potentially driving her family farm into the ground, Swanson wouldn’t blame him for anything. She compared it to farmers dealing with challenges like droughts or pests.

“We’re just hoping this doesn’t last a long time,” she said, “and that we can get to a point where we end up in a better place.”



HuffPost talked to eight grain farmers in the region, which overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2016, and we asked them how his tariffs have affected their business. Nearly all had the same response: They fear economic ruin if Trump doesn’t resolve the situation soon, but they won’t criticize him for causing an international rift that threatens their livelihoods.

Mike Zecher, president of the Mercer County Farm Bureau, said he had been hoping to replace his main tractor for planting season because it’s almost eight years old. But because of the uncertainty of tariffs, any decisions on replacing equipment have to wait.
Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-tariffs-farmers-soybeans_us_5b646da2e4b0de86f4a0c5f4?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=__TheMorningEmail__080818&utm_content=__TheMorningEmail__080818+CID_c3679a41388dbdd41913ed478e8fb1e1&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=HuffPost&ncid=newsltushpmgnews__TheMorningEmail__080818

The Best Graphic Novel of the Justice Society of America

If you're a long time comics fan, and you've read comics for decades you know about a group of
heroes who preceded the Justice League. Back in the 1940s there was the Justice Society of America or JSA. I just found the BEST JSA story, ever in a collected trade paperback.  In this blog you'll learn about this 1940s/1950s heyday team, about the individual characters and the book summary, which brilliantly covers their comic book adventures and ties it into a current mystery where the JSA is all on trial.

ABOUT THE JSA: DC Comics had them fighting along World War 2 soldiers and also fighting super criminals. In the early 50s they faded away as comics shied away from superheroes. But, in the 1960s they made a comeback with the newer incarnation (and on a different Earth, Earth-1) called the Justice League of America.

WHO WERE THEY? The main members were: Atom (Al Pratt), Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson), Flash (Jay Garrick), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Hawkman (Carter Hall), Hourman (Rex Tyler) ,Sandman (Wesley Dodds), The Spectre, Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt. Batman, Robin and Superman were auxiliary members. There were also others.

Recently, I found a trade paperback featuring the JSA well-worth reading. It's called "America vs. The Justice Society." It was originally is a four-issue comic book mini-series starring the Justice Society of America which was first published by DC Comics between January and April 1985. The trade paperback is available on Amazon.com

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Years after his death, Batman’s diary is made public only to excuse his old teammates, the Justice Society of America, of being Nazi collaborators with Hitler himself. Not wanting to fight their own country, the Justice Society surrender themselves to the law and now stand trial for crimes they did not commit. Who is the mastermind behind framing the World’s Greatest Superheroes? And why would they tarnish their pillars of society?

Written by the legendary Roy Thomas with illustrations by an all-star team of Jerry Ordway, Rafael Kayanan, and others, this classic tale collects AMERICA VS. THE JUSTICE SOCIETY #1-4

In the News: Sheffield Castlegate: Excavation to Find where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned.

BBC News reported earlier this week that Sheffield Castle is being excavated to find the remains of where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. Tom is an amateur historian on all things related to England's Tudor period, so this is especially interesting to him.

  Here's the BBC article:

Sheffield Castlegate: Major excavation project begins

SOURCE: BBC NEWS 8-13-18

Excavation work has started in a bid to find out what is left of a castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned.

A series of trial trenches will be dug in previously uninvestigated areas where Sheffield Castle once stood.

The dig will focus on where Sheffield's Castle Market previously stood

The dig, said to be the first comprehensive survey of the Castlegate site, is part of a £786,000 council scheme to revamp the area.

Castlegate is the oldest part of Sheffield and has been inhabited since at least the 11th Century.

 Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned at Sheffield Castle and Manor Lodge for 14 years in the 1500s under the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury.

Sheffield Castle was destroyed in 1648 and its remains were covered by Castle Market in the 1960s, with the only visible parts locked in basements.

Mary Queen of Scots was executed in 1587

The indoor market was demolished in 2015, with the cleared space now allowing wider excavation work to take place.

Wessex Archaeology said its work would take nine weeks, with its findings then shared with Sheffield City Council and other interested parties.

Mili Rajic, project manager for the dig, said: "In the 15th and 16th Century this was a very substantial and important building, this is where Sheffield started expanding.

"It was probably the largest stone-built castle in the country at the time."

Prof John Moreland, from the University of Sheffield's archaeology department, said: "It has been a long haul with people pushing for excavations here for a long time, so for us it's a great day.

Artist's impression of what Sheffield Castle looked like in the 13th Century

"Excavations in the 1920s and 1950s uncovered large parts including the gatehouse, the moat, some interior buildings and perhaps part of the dungeon, so it's clear there's significant archaeology here."

The Castlegate redevelopment will also see a new green "corridor", the transformation of empty shops and work to protect the city's Old Town Hall.

Spain Blog #57: Seville: Tasty Treats,a Dunkin Man and City Dogs

 In this breakaway Spain blog about our trip in May, we're going to present a couple of things we really liked that weren't historic. A bakery treat, a handsome Dunkin' worker and city dogs!
  
BAKERY TREATS - The bakeries in Seville were so good that we ate at them sometimes for lunch. In fact, one day, I (Rob) just had cake for lunch!

Cake for lunch!

Dunkin's handsome employee

DOUBLE DUNKIN' DONUTS TREAT - I'ts no secret that we love Dunkin' Donuts coffee, tea and sandwiches. But when we visited one of the two Dunkin's in Seville, not only was the food and drink delicious,  but so was the guy working behind the counter. He was handsome, efficient and very well-mannered. What more could you ask for?

CITY DOGS - There were a LOT of dogs in Seville, and fortunately, they all seemed to have a pet parent attached to them, unlike in Grenada, where some homeless people had dogs with them. In Seville, these pooches were well cared for and pampered.

NEXT: PLAZA DE ESPANA

Dunkin Donuts in Seville

A well cared for dog on a walk

We met this dog in the lobby of our hotel

A little dog wearing pearls

Spain Blog #56: Seville's Alcazar: Part 2: Gardens, a Woven Dog, and Ghostly Energy

 In this blog on Alcazar Palace we'll show you some of our favorite pictures. There are just 4 of them so it won't take too long to enjoy them. But you'll read about the baths, ceilings, gardens, the Woven dog and ghostly energy! At the end of this blog, you'll find my observation of the palace tour over all. 

1) Tom at the Vaulted Underground Baths - this was a bathing chamber built under the palace. They're actually called the "The baths of Dona Maria of Padilla" and are located below the main palace 

2) Ornate Ceilings - In every room each ceiling had different designs on it. One of them looked as if it had huge flower patterns. 

3) The Gardens - The gardens are located at the very back of the palace. At the lower level of the palace are the Vaulted Underground Baths that open right into the gardens. 

   The palace gardens, continuously changed since the Renaissance with an outpouring of fountains and ponds, pavilions, arches and galleries. The parterres, have been constantly re-invented, and, right up until the mid-nineteenth century  

The name it was given is Jardin Inglés (English gardens) - These gardens are modeled on those of the British Isles from 18 Century. The park was built in 1909 and the main gardener of the Real Casa de Campo, Juan Gras, was put in charge of planting the flowers.  

4) The Woven Dog - There was one room filled with nothing but giant tapestries hanging on the walls. One that we showed you yesterday had an old map of Spain and the various kingdoms (we talked about those a couple of blogs back). The one that we both liked the best, however, had a dog on it (seen here). 

5) The Ghostly Energy! In the Palace's "Hall of Justice"  - This room was built by Alonso the XI in the 14th century. It was used as a courtroom by Pedro I.  

  As we entered the room, and not knowing what it was until after inside, I (Rob) suddenly experienced shaky legs and felt fright. 

   When I learned the purpose of this room, those emotions that I picked up from the residual energy in the room's walls, made perfect sense. People on trial in that room would feel those emotions and they radiated them into the structure.

   The energy was especially strong near the courtyard entrance. 

FINAL OBSERVATION  - Like the Alhambra Palace - this had NO furnishings to give visitors an idea of how people lived in these rooms at different times. It was disappointing.  Although the artwork on the ceilings and walls are ornate and beautiful, it's hard to understand how people lived in the palace over the last 1,000 years. 

NEXT: THE PLAZA DE ESPANA - A TRUE HIGHLIGHT