Steven Damron
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stevendamron.bsky.social
Steven Damron
@stevendamron.bsky.social
Author of Dear Mustafa. Order in local bookstores worldwide or from Amazon online. Writing Ghostwriter in Barcelona.

Bsky topics: Writing, AI, Barcelona, gay life, and fascism, not necessarily in that order.
At the La Liga F game last weekend, I noticed the stadium had product placement targeted to (no surprise) women.

#BCN
November 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Newsom is right.

Trump ceded renewable energy manufacturing to China in his first term. Now he's cementing China's dominant position in the world.

This has implications for AI, of course, which needs electricity. China will have plenty, the US will not.

#fascism [NY Times]
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Watched a La Liga F game this weekend at the Barça compound which includes the Johan Cruyff stadium and several practice fields.

Barça was ahead 8-0 against Abanca at half time, so I wandered over to watch the women's C-team in a much closer match.

Barça is a massive organization.

#BCN
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
While Trump is handing the Chinese the AI and clean energy markets, the King of Spain is talking to China about cooperating on business. It seems Trump has lost Europe as well as China.

America First = America Alone

#fascism
November 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Dancing the Sardana, a traditional Catalan dance, in front of the cathedral last night. The circle expands and contracts as dancers join and leave the dance.

#BCN
November 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM
There's a new hat shop in Raval!

#BCN
November 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
A large film shoot this week took over a couple of blocks of Raval. I wonder if residents were asked to put colorful laundry out to dry.

#BCN
November 7, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Barcelona looks to Paris more than Madrid. Painters like Picasso and Casas, for instance, took their cues from the French.

I walked by this and thought, hmm, Paris. Turns out this entrance at Plaça d'Urquinaona is the last example of modernista influence on Barcelona's subways.

#BCN
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
A crowd waiting to enter Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona's opera house on La Rambla, for the final performance of Philip Glass' Akhnaten.

#BCN
November 5, 2025 at 9:03 AM
A group of American guys busking on La Rambla this weekend.

#BCN
November 4, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I discovered a new pasteleria in the neighborhood. Well, new to me.

After a little online snooping, I found out Tartas del Norte (the baker is Belgian, so northern cakes) has been around for a decade. Can't wait to try it!

#BCN
November 2, 2025 at 11:00 AM
It was a scary Halloween last night in Barcelona with witches putting spells on a store full of sweet treats.

#BCN
November 1, 2025 at 12:56 PM
50 years after Franco's death and Spain is finally shutting down his foundation. It "humiliates the dignity of the victims."

If Trump steals the 2028 election, he won't rule as long as Franco. Even so, the US recovery from Trump's dictatorship will take decades.

#fascism [El País]
October 31, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Why, yes! Barcelona does celebrate Halloween!

It's an American holiday, but any excuse to put on a costume will do.

Many shops have been decorated all week in preparation for tonight's festivities.

#BCN
October 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM
This bus stop ad roughly translates that riders have control when they take Uber.

Barcelona taxi drivers had something they wanted to add.

#BCN
October 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
More Christmas lights going up in Barcelona, this time in Raval.

#BCN
October 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The Christmas lights are going up in Barcelona!

#BCN
October 28, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Using military forces to kill civilians is murder, whether it's in Ukraine or in the Caribbean.

Trump's and Miller's war crimes shouldn't go unpunished. Trump's will because of the Supreme Court's extraordinary grant of presidential immunity.

#fascism [NY Times]
October 28, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Super clear day in Barcelona yesterday. Pretty sure I was seeing all the way to Costa Brava from Barcelonetta beach.

#BCN
October 27, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Long, long line yesterday for what I believe was a MACBA event. Not sure whether it's related to the last weekend of the Carlos Motta exhibit, but no matter. If you haven't seen Motta's exhibit, today is the final day. Highly recommended.

#BCN
October 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Walked by MNAC and noticed there's an exhibit of anti-Nazi drawing by Mario Armengol.

After Franco's rule, Barcelona knows about #fascism

Gotta go see it!

#BCN
October 25, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The Magic Fountain of Montjuic is running again after the drought ... and it's gorgeous.

Originally constructed for the 1929 International Exposition, it also invited visitors to climb from Plaza España to the Olympic Stadium in 1992.

This year LEDs were installed for nocturnal light shows.

#BCN
October 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
One nice thing about Barcelona is that the high-speed train delivers you to Girona in 40 minutes.

Yesterday's views of the Pyrenees were spectacularly clear from the Roman wall.

#BCN
October 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Wonder how long it will take the US to recover from Trump?

Franco died 50 years ago and his machismo laws still cause problems for women in Spain.

#fascism [El País]
October 23, 2025 at 9:01 AM
My neighbors got in on all the fun this weekend in Sant Antoni with, well, I'm not sure. Disco meets flamenco? Convention of gray wigs? Sly silver smiles?

You tell me!

#BCN
October 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM