Paris Parfait

Sad, but true

"Stress" sign on building, Barcelona, Spain.

I don't know about you, but I can hardly wait until this election is over. Even Joe McCain, John McCain's brother is getting cranky, calling 911 emergency twice, just because he was stuck in traffic. These stories are unbelievable; sadly, they're all true.

Chilling: "Another wink and nod from Sarah Palin."

Palin's makeup artist was paid $22,000 for the first two weeks of October! 

Desperate Republicans send a private investigator to try to intimidate New Mexico voters.

The Independent: The Picture that Shames Italy.

This is a charming, feel-good short advertisement that contains a little history of England.

And if you haven't read those brazen firecrackers Margaret and Helen, I urge you to drop everything and visit them NOW!

Much ado about nothing. But the McCain campaign fueled the fire.

Antoni Gaudi: Form and function

Rooftop chimneys, Casa Batllo, Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona, Spain. For more photos of Gaudi's architectural gems, check back this weekend.

Curved chimneys and ventilation ducts on the rooftop terrace at Casa Batllo.

Four chimneys, decorated in glazed ceramic tile.

Frontier girl

Shop window, Barcelona, Spain. This mannequin's hat with a fox tale reminded me of something Sarah Palin might wear when she's out hunting moose or chasing wolves. Then again, now that the Alaska governor has had a taste of expensive designer fashion, she might not like that frontier (albeit upscale frontier) look.

Of course, John McCain once said campaign funds should not be used for "inherently personal purposes," such as "clothing purchases." "...I do not believe the general public is aware of how their campaign contributions are being used," McCain said. "I think it would be fair to say that if they did, they would be outraged and well they should be." Read more about his principled stance - in 1993 - here. Now that it's 2008, McCain seems to have abandoned such notions.

Visit my friend Tangobaby for her brilliant post: "Putting fresher, prettier faces on the McCain campaign."

Don't shoot the messenger

"Flying saucers" illuminate the lobby, Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I, Barcelona, Spain.

In one of those amusing "lost in translation" moments, the guest services menu at the hotel includes a cryptic reference to the "World Press." "We dispose of a wide range of international press. Check the form hanging on the door of your room to make the order. For more information, please contact the Concierge."

Uh oh...Sounds rather ominous for visiting reporters. Although I must say the hotel is quite a lovely place, with amazing views!

For two additional posts today, scroll down the page.

Temperatures rising

Centigrade thermometer, Barcelona, Spain.

Voting problems continue in Ohio

The same-day voter-registration window has ended in Ohio, but legal battles persist. The Republican Hamilton County prosecutor Joseph T. Deters subpoenaed the county elections board for the records of 266 new voters who cast absentee ballots during the week-long election-day registration period. Deters claimed there were problems with addresses and identities.  A website breach, a state supreme court recusal and gubernatorial accusations of “scare tactics” also have been reported.

Update Wednesday evening: The various disputes over voting in Ohio are turning vicious and ugly, with death threats being lobbed at the Secretary of State’s Office. Luckily, a truce has been declared – for now – in the massive voter-registration flap that would require a double-checking of new registrants. Summitt County is taking matters into its own hands – the election board has reviewed and rejected hundreds of new voter registrations for a variety of reasons.

“Fraud" fight

Democrats and Republicans are accusing one another of encouraging voter fraud. House and Senate Judiciary Committee members – Republican and Democrat –  have issued letters demanding investigations into alleged intimidation or fraud. An actual arrest for voter fraud has occurred in California, where a Republican man fraudulently registered in his boyhood home to meet a law requiring signature gatherers in his company were registered in the state.

Early voting; early problems

Many West Virginians were outraged when they attempted to cast an early ballot but found their choice “jumped” to another candidate on the touch-screen, prompting officials to urge voters to re-check their selections before submitting their ballots.

With early voting open in the majority of states, problems and long lines have already begun. In Florida, many waited 30 minutes to an hour to cast a ballot, in part due to mechanical glitches. Poll workers in some spots went out of their way to make sure the waits were comfortable.

Voter deception hits the internet

As deceitful flyers and robocalls have given way to false emails and websites aimed at confusing and intimidating voters, Election Protection and its allies are addressing the issue head on. On Monday a report was released by Common Cause, The Century Foundation and The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, entitled Deceptive Practices 2.0: Legal And Policy Responses. Read more here.

Bucking the trend

Two of Colorado’s biggest counties – Larimer and Jefferson – have been accepting voter registration forms, in opposition to Secretary of State Mike Coffman’s ruling to disqualify them based on the applicants’ failure to check a small box.

Ready, set, vote!

In Texas, early voting has begun. Officials are predicting record turnout and problems for newly- registered voters, due to paperwork backlogs from the influx of new voters.

Feds to watch polls

As part of the Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day Program, voting in several U.S. districts will be monitored by U.S. Attorneys, as well as special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Northern Florida is one such district, as are both federal districts of Wisconsin and the states of Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee.

Voter deception 2.0

Fears of internet voter deception have been stoked over the past few months by erroneous emails and website hacks. Virginia is the latest e-victim. as a massive letter-writing campaign crashed e-mail servers in Fairfax County, Richmond and several other jurisdictions. The crash caused a critical, nearly day-long interruption in sending absentee ballots via e-mail to overseas and military voters.

If you encounter problems in casting your vote at the polls, please contact Election Protection at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

Scroll down the page for an additional post today.

Barcelona beauty

Front view of Antoni Gaudi's Casa Batllo's crowning glory, shot with a telephoto lens from across the street. Doesn't the top section look like something out of a fairy tale? Maybe a gingerbread house?

The exterior of Casa Batllo, one of Gaudi's magnificent Barcelona beauties. The curved building on Passeig de Gracia is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Some Casa Batllo windows are egg-shaped.

Juliet balcony close-up.

View of street - including a construction site - from an open window in Casa Batllo's main salon.

Curves at the top of the windows, opening onto Passeig de Gracia.

The gorgeous light fixture in the main salon at Casa Batllo (glimpsed through the window in the second photo, above). Check back later for more photos of Casa Batllo and other Gaudi architectural marvels.

Bridging the gap

Bridge over narrow street, Barcelona, Spain.

We are all Americans. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican. We may disagree on fundamental issues, but each of us is entitled to our own opinion. What I do care about is whether or not you're an extremist, who foments division, hatred and even violence.  Such ill-advised behavior seems to be on show too often these days, whether it's the McCarthy-like rantings of a Minnesota congresswoman calling for an investigation into whether members of Congress are anti-American; Sarah Palin asserting some parts of the country are more "pro-America" than others or a McCain campaign spokeswoman musing about "the real Virginia."

This divisive talk is deliberately designed to stir culture wars and incite bad behavior in remarkably intolerant people. It's irresponsible, like shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theatre. Right on cue, several people spout racist and even fascist taunts, while waiting in line to enter McCain-Palin rallies. Once inside the venue, many seem to adopt a mob-mentality, brandishing hand-lettered signs with venemous slogans, then turning their misguided anger on the press. I wonder if these people watched videos of themselves shouting baseless accusations, they'd realise how wrong-headed and ignorant they appear. Are they proud of their outbursts of false bravado? Do they think they are model citizens, setting good examples for their children to emulate?

Happily, the U.S. Constitution provides for freedom of speech. Civil discourse and dissent, yes. But hateful rants leading to violent acts? No.

And the Republican attempts to intimidate voters really are beyond the pale. Don't let false rumors or fake or misleading mailings stop you from voting. In this election,stand up for your rights and make your voices heard. It's the only way we can salvage what's left of our once-proud democracy and move towards a brighter future. Our children and their children deserve better. America deserves better.

"It is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. The future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task." - Robert F. Kennedy 1925-1968.

"Bridging the Gap" is cross-posted at Open Salon and RedRoom.com.

Barcelona bride

Shop window, Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona.

For more Barcelona photos, go here, here and here. And plenty more still to come!

La Pedrera's undulating beauty

Iron decorative trim on balcony railings, as viewed from the interior of La Pedrera, Barcelona. The windows overlook Passeig de Gracia.  For photos of Antoni Gaudi's sculptural chimneys, balustrades and ventilation towers on the building's roof terrace, go here.

La Pedrera's main doorway, viewed from the foyer.

Plants in an interior courtyard connecting the two main buildings of Casa Mila, or La Pedrera.

Elaborate iron grillwork on small exterior balconies at La Pedrera.

View of La Pedrera's exterior.

For three other posts today - including another about La Pedrera - scroll down the page. Check back this weekend for more Barcelona photos.

La Pedrera

Working chimneys on the rooftop of Casa Mila, Barcelona. The building was constructed in 1906-1912 by Antoni Gaudi, on the border then separating Barcelona from Gracia. The industrialist Pere Mila and his wife Roser Segimon lived on the main floor and turned the rest into apartments.

Gaudi built two blocks of apartment houses with independent entrances, arranged around large interior patios. The buildings share a single facade, with the structure resting on pillars, rather than weight-bearing walls. Gaudi's innovative design was lauded for both its functional and ornamental aspects, breaking with architectural styles of the period.

As Casa Mila's facade resembles carved rock, the locals nicknamed the building La Pedrera, meaning stone quarry. In 1984, UNESCO assigned Casa Mila its World Heritage status.

In 1986, Caixa Catalunya purchased the building and began restoration. In 1996, La Pedrera was opened to the public as a cultural center. Currently, it is headquarters to Caixa Catalunya's Social Work division, as well as four other foundations.

The terrace roof contains badalots (staircases), ventilation towers and chimneys. Some are covered with trencadis, or broken pieces of ceramic. The elements less visible from the street were simply roughcast and painted. The undulating ballustrades conform to the shape of the facade, as Gaudi sought harmony between the facade's rhythms and the roof'.

A curvaceous mosaic top to a stairwell.

A chimney stands like a lone sentinel on a corner of La Pedrera's terrace.

Check back later for more photos of La Pedrera and other Barcelona architectural wonders.

Bedazzled by Barcelona

Rooftop photo, Casa Batllo, Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona, Spain.

I am back from Barcelona, with about 600 photos of amazing art and architecture, including Antoni Gaudi's Modernism and Art Nouveau marvels. And I still haven't had a chance to tell you about my trip to Antwerp! Check back later for more photos and travel adventures.