Get Your Kicks On Route 66

For those interested in historic Route 66, "The Mother Road", I came across a website with information on landmarks, sites, accommodations and tons of trivia.

Above, a section of Route 66 in Red Rock, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A section of Route 66 is not far from my home in Jamestown, New Mexico. I have driven it a few times and have also driven a section of it from Lupton, Arizona to a few miles past the New Mexico state line where it merges into Interstate 40 west of Gallup.

Above, entering New Mexico from Arizona on Route 66. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Much of Route 66 crosses through Gallup and there's plenty of reminders of it.

To learn more, go to https://www.theroute-66.com/home.html.

Also, for New Mexico's part of Route 66, go to https://www.newmexico.org/route66/.

The Jamestown, New Mexico Area

Tonight's menu was to go down to Denny's at the Flying J. I was not in the mood to cook, so I went down there to let someone else cook for me.

I had the Bourbon Chicken Skillet. It was good, except they had no broccoli.

Along the way, I stopped here and there and took a few photos:

Above, looking south and uphill on Whispering Cedars Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the community's fire station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Interstate 40 and the mesas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Flying J auto/RV travel center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Western Refinery, now owned by Andeavor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the truck stop area of the Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Adventure Comics #369

One of my favorite comic books was Adventure Comics of the Silver Age. It featured full-length stories of Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

The writing was top-notch (by a young Jim Shooter) and great artwork (generally Curt Swan and George Klein and later Swan and Jack Abel).

A little discussion on Adventure Comics no. 369 (cover date June 1968) is taking place at Facebook and I scanned a couple of pages. The cover (at top) was done by Neal Adams.

Here I am with Adams at Comikaze Expo in 2012:

The first is the "splash" page featuring a rare ink job by Curt Swan:

Then, there's page 7 of the story featuring the work of Swan and Abel:

A number of fans didn't care much for Abel's inks on Swan, but I thought they fit the Legion stories quite nicely.

Great American Eclipse Created Wave In Earth's Atmosphere

Above, the area near Roberts, Idaho in the eclipse shadow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few months from now, it will be a year since the Great American Eclipse took place across the United States.

I traveled to Idaho to view the eclipse and I wasn't disappointed. The trip to see it was worth it.

Above, the total eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been theorized that solar eclipses cause disturbances in the Earth's atmosphere, or waves. That theory has been confirmed.

Newsweek reported:

Brian Harding drove south to St. Louis last August to watch the total solar eclipse, but he didn't stay long after the spectacle. "As soon as it was over, I drove back to the city and opened up my computer and was making sure the instrument was taking data and everything," he told Newsweek. 

That's because Harding, an engineer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who focuses on space science, had organized an experiment to run during the eclipse's aftermath. He was hunting for elusive evidence of a long hypothesized atmospheric phenomenon, a giant wave traveling thousands of miles triggered by the abrupt night of the eclipse. As he and his colleagues report in a new paper published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the observations were successful, finally backing up decades of scientific suspicion. 

Harding had to check the instrument from his computer because the wave was hundreds of miles south of where the eclipse passed overhead. He and his colleagues were exploring the distant ripples felt in Brazil as the atmosphere adjusted to the event's aftermath.

To read more, go here. 

T + L: 15 Active Volcanoes You Can Hike Around The World

Above, the parking lot and trail head for the Lassen Peak Trail. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People have been known to hike volcanoes such as Mount Fuji in Japan and Lassen Peak in the U.S. Although both are dormant at present, they are still considered active volcanoes and can erupt at any time.

Travel + Leisure has an article 15 other active volcanoes that are available for hiking around the world, should one seek some extra adventure.

They begin with:

Over hundreds of thousands of years, volcanic activity has yielded a breathtaking array of breathtaking features, from craters and calderas to lava flows and lava tubes. 

And these features aren't just terms from your elementary school science textbook: You can actually see them up close. All you have to do is hike an active volcano. 

To help you get started planning your next adventure, we've rounded up 15 hikeable volcanoes around the world that draw thrill-seekers, nature enthusiasts, and mountain climbing experts to their awe-inspiring peaks. A few are easily accessible to beginner hikers, while some require gear, technical climbing skills, high levels of fitness, and a fair bit of courage to reach the summit. And plenty of others offer a variety of spectacular trails in between the extremes. 

But no matter which volcano you plan to hike – whether it's consistently quiet or continuously erupting – make sure you're up to speed on its alert levels before you leave for your trip, as trails may be temporarily closed due to strong gases, eruptions, and other volcanic activity.

Above, a view of Mount Fuji from a shinkansen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Road Trip Essentials

Above, the road to Monument Valley in Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With Memorial Day weekend and summer vacation season coming up, many people will be taking to the road.

There are some things, or "essentials", that people should have with them while they travel. Condé Nast Traveler has a list of 11 of them.

They begin with:

While we've spent plenty of time in the air and at sea, there's no better feeling than driving down a highway on cruise control. But just because you're still on the ground, doesn't mean road trips are any easier. We asked the Traveler editors to share what they keep on their road trip checklists. Some things you'd expect, like snacks and beach towels, while others you might not, like face mist and headphones splitters. Here's what we always keep in the car.

To see what they are, go here. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Tips

Above, a view of Lassen Peak from the Lassen Peak Trail parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 1968, Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California became the first national park I visited.

Above, The Beast at the Manzanita Lake Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On that trip, my parents and I camped at the Manzanita Lake Campground in a canvas umbrella tent. While my mom and I were warm enough in our sleeping bags at night, my dad had a rather thin sleeping bag and shivered each night.

Last year, I visited the park again during my Great American Eclipse trip. I stayed again at the Manzanita Lake Campground, only this time I had more comfortable quarters.

Above, the Manzanita Lake Campground store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

USA Today has an article with 10 tips on getting the most out of a visit to the park.

They begin the article with:

Though one of the oldest national parks in the USA, Lassen Volcanic National Park isn’t as well-known as its Californian sister, Yosemite National Park, only welcoming 507,256 visitors last year compared to Yosemite's over four million. Established in 1916, the park is one of the only places in the world where you can see all four types of volcanoes – cinder cone, composite, shield and plug dome. 

Lassen Peak is a plug dome volcano that last erupted in 1917, and is considered to be the most likely volcano in the Cascade Range to erupt within the next 100 years. Plenty of hydro- and geothermal activity is still found in the park today, along with abundant recreational activities. No matter where you explore in the park, be sure to stay safe and stay on the paths. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Be forewarned, however – if visiting during the wintertime, heavy snowfall can close roads, so be sure and check the park’s website for up-to-date travel information. Also note that the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 1 through October 30, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, October 31 through March 31.

Above, The Beast at Devastated Area with Lassen Peak in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I'll divulge one of the 10 tips:

10. Dark skies: When the sun goes down, half the park appears after dark. Lassen Volcanic National Park is removed from most light pollution, so the stars look even brighter when they come out. Park rangers offer Starry Night and astronomy programs, or make plans to attend the Lassen Dark Sky Festival (August 3-4, 2018) for more nighttime viewing.

To read the remaining 9 tips, go here. There are also 17 photographs to enjoy.

Akira Takarada Turns 84

Above, Akira Takarada and Armand at the 2013 Son of Monsterpalooza. 

Popular actor Akira Takarada turned 84 today.

From Wikipedia:

Takarada was born in Japan-occupied Korea, and lived for a time in Harbin, China. His father worked as an engineer on the South Manchuria Railway. After the war, he remained in Harbin, and he is able to speak Mandarin Chinese and English. 

Takarada moved to Japan with his family in 1948. He joined Toho as part of their "New Face" program in April 1953. In his film debut, he had a small role in And Then the Liberty Bell Rang, a biography of the educator Fukuzawa Yukichi. His big break came when he was cast as navy diver Hideto Ogata in the original Godzilla (1954). He became a popular actor at Toho for his good looks and charismatic, sophisticated character. He continued his association with the Godzilla series in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966). He returned to the series in 1992 with Godzilla vs. Mothra and appeared again in Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Other Toho science-fiction/special-effects films in which he appeared include Half Human (1955), The Last War (1961), King Kong Escapes (1967), and Latitude Zero (1969).

Happy Birthday, Akira Takarada! 

Southwest Airlines Plans Service To 4 Hawaii Airports

Above, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As more airlines are beginning service to Hawaii, travelers will be seeing lower airfares as competition heats up.

Southwest Airlines expects to offer service to Hawaii later this year once all approvals are completed.

According to the National Post:

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Southwest Airlines says it intends to offer flights to four Hawaii airports. 

West Hawaii Today reports the Dallas-based carrier announced this week that it plans to offer service to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on the Big Island, Lihue Airport on Kauai, Kahului Airport on Maui and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu.

To read more, go here. 

An Educational Breakfast Meet-up

Above, Wellington "Bill" Wilson and his truck at the Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today has to go into the "you learn something new everyday file".

This morning, an old friend from junior high school in Hawthorne, Wellington "Bill" Wilson, was passing through along Interstate 40 from Albuquerque and we met up at the Denny's in the Flying J travel center.

Above, we both enjoyed our breakfast at Denny's. 

The last couple of times we've met up were during funerals, so this was a much better circumstance.

We had breakfast at the Denny's and caught up on things an reminisced about funny incidents and people from years ago.

Afterward, Bill gave me a tour of his Kenworth truck out in the truckstop section of the Flying J.

To say that I was amazed would be an understatement. I had no idea that the "sleeper cabs" of semi-trucks have become so elaborate over the years. They have gone from just a little bed with (if they're lucky) a hot plate to a virtual home (actually, it looks like a RV inside).

Above, Bill in front of the sleeping area. The dinette converts to a bed and a
bunk bed can be lowered from above (with a motor). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Bill's truck living area includes two beds, dinette, bathroom (with toilet and shower facilities), refrigerator/freezer, convection stove, microwave, counter space (a lot more than my RV has) and plenty of cabinets/cupboards. He told me that one trucker he knows has a longer living area with a washer and dryer.

Above, the microwave oven and refrigerator/freezer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nothing like traveling around in a RV-like vehicle and getting paid for it. If this kind of arrangement were available 30-40 years ago, I could have been easily enticed into getting into trucking. On top of that, his truck has an automatic transmission! I had no idea that semis came with automatics, so this was new to me. I felt like I was asking questions like Huell Howser.

Above, the sink and counter space. A convection stove is stored in a cabinet below when not in use. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

He was going to retire, but he was given an offer that include a new and larger truck that he just couldn't pass up. It will be built and ready in October.

Above, Bill outside and next to the living module (to use NASA terminology). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the tour, Bill headed off west to his next delivery and I headed up the hill to home. I have to admit that I got some interesting education today.

Above, the front of Bill's truck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What A Dud!

Above, the storm clouds of yesterday afternoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The forecast for this weekend in Jamestown, New Mexico was occasional thunderstorms. I was very much looking for a nice light show.

Well, that turned out to be a big dud. Although I did hear a few rumblings of thunder yesterday afternoon, there were no lightning flashes to savor. Monsoon season will start in June here and will go through September. We should get some good thunderstorms then. It is predicted that this year's monsoon will be more intense. We'll see.

The good thing was that we did get some rain, which allows me to skip a day or two of watering the outside plants.

Most of the trees and plants in the yard are either in bloom or just budding. There is one tree that I am waiting on to start its spring budding. 

This morning, I am to meet up with an old friend formerly from Hawthorne (I've known him since junior high) for breakfast down at Denny's at the Flying J. He's a trucker and about 20 minutes ago, he indicated that he's about 70 miles on the way from Albuquerque. Considering how fast the trucks fly down Interstate 40 (the speed limit here is 75 m.p.h.), he should be here around eight o'clock.

His truck is for sale, by the way. I'll post something on it later. He can't retire until it's sold.

Expect Higher Airfares, American Airlines Warns

Above, the San Gabriel Mountains from an American Airlines flight. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although the gasoline prices in New Mexico (where I live) is still about a dollar less than California's, I have noticed a steady climb (gasoline prices are about thirty cents higher than three months ago) in recent weeks. 

So has American Airlines. An article in Japan Today reports that American Airlines warns that higher fares are coming. They mainly blame rising fuel costs.

According to the article:

DALLAS - Rising fuel costs are eating into airline profits, dampening expectations for the rest of 2018, and setting the stage for higher fares. 

Fuel is the airlines' second-biggest expense after labor, so when it rises — at American it was up 40 cents a gallon from a year ago — so does the cost of providing air travel, says American Airlines CEO Doug Parker. 

"If indeed this is where fuel prices are going to stay, I would expect you would see higher fares to consumers over time," Parker said. 

American blamed higher fuel prices for a 45 percent drop in first-quarter profit, to $186 million.

To read more, go here. 

Graceland Expansion: Mayor Pushes Back

Above, the Graceland swimming pool. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that there's a major difference of opinion between the may of Memphis, Tennessee and Elvis Presley Enterprises.

According to WDAM:

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - The Memphis mayor and the manager of Graceland are at odds over the use of city funds. 

Mayor Jim Strickland released a statement Friday saying Joel Weinshanker--managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises--is criticizing City leaders simply to get more money to fund his business. 

A day earlier, Weinshanker urged people at a town hall meeting to vote out city council members and Mayor Strickland. Weinshanker said the city leaders are refusing to communicate with him and help him with expanding Graceland, which he says will improve Whitehaven. 

"What we rally need is to have an interaction with city government, which, at this point, they won't even speak to us because of our disagreement with the arena [FedExForum]," Weinshanker said. 

Strickland released a 300-word statement Friday pushing back against Weinshanker's claims. 

Strickland said the whole controversy boils down to one thing: using public money to fund a private business.

It will be interesting to see how things develop. Stay tuned!

To read more, go here. 

Millennials Buying RVs

Above, I saw quite a number of young couples at last year's California RV Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Millennial generation is being targeted by the RV industry for a number of reasons. The current boom in RV sales is due in part by younger people buying RVs.

According to RV Life:

Manufacturers are expecting to ship nearly half a million RVs in 2018. Even more encouraging though, is the age of the buyers. Younger enthusiasts looking for a cheap, versatile vacation are largely driving sales growth. It is no longer just retirees looking to cross-country travel in giant Class As. Lower gas prices and better interest rates mean more Americans than ever are looking to buy an RV. 

Millennials travel 30% more than previous generations and view vacations as a way of life, not a treat. Having an RV makes it easier to take more frequent trips and disappear on weekend getaways. Most RVs are used for numerous weekend getaways, maybe five or six trips a year, with one longer trip mixed in. 

While Millennials can’t necessarily cut fat checks yet, they are willing to spend more on products and services that match their lifestyle. This fits hand-in-hand with the RV industry growth. Manufacturers have seen increased sales in smaller trailers that can be towed by an SUV.

To read more, go here. 

Mesa Photo Modifications

One of my Jamestown neighbors, who is an aerial photographer, did some tinkering with one of my photographs of the mesas across the valley from Jamestown.

Here is the result:

It is almost like living near Zion or Bryce Canyon National Parks out here!

Up At The Continental Divide

Above, Indian Village Gift Shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This afternoon, after picking up my mail at the Flying J, I decided to take a little drive (about 8 miles) east along I-40 to where there are three Indian stores.

I browsed around for a while at the Indian Market (I had purchased a kachina there a couple of months ago), but this time I didn't see anything that caught my eye.

Above, Indian Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I then went next door (about 150 yards) to the Indian Village Gift Shop. Again I browsed around and, this time, something did catch my eye. And, it was reasonably priced!

It was a Navajo ceremonial rattle with a white bison (buffalo) at the head:

Above, the Navajo ceremonial rattle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to Mission Del Rey.com:

Native American rattles and shakers as they are known to Native Americans are very important to the Native American western Navajo culture as well as other tribes. An Indian rattle may be used as a dance rattle or to accompany the rhythm of the Native Indian drums. Navajo people as well as nearly every other tribe use rattles in Native American ceremonial rituals.

After purchasing, I wandered a bit and spotted a monument next to the freeway (the stores are on Historic Route 66).

It was commemorating the Continental Divide:

Above, the Continental Divide monument. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I just mentioned, the road where the stores are located are on what was Route 66.

Here's a view looking east:

Above, looking east on Historic Route 66. I-40 is at right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Funny thing about Indian gift shops, whenever I see a sign about Indian blankets, I am reminded of an old movie (it might have been an Abbott & Costello movie) in which an Indian was hawking blankets. Only he was saying, "Get your genuine Indian electric blankets!"

Making The Most of Joshua Tree National Park

Above, one of the rock formations at the southern end of the park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The closest national park to Los Angeles is Joshua Tree National Park. 

CNN Travel currently is running a series on the national parks and WENY-TV News has posted their article on "How to make the most of Joshua Tree National Park".

It begins with:

Editor's note: To mark National Park Week, CNN Travel is featuring several stories about the country's national parks, seashores, historic sites and more.

JOSHUA TREE, California (CNN) -- Joshua Tree sits roughly two and a half hours east of Los Angeles by car, a majestic desert paradise of 792,510 acres of national park lands squished between the palm-tree lined boulevards of Palm Springs to the south and the eccentric, rugged town of Joshua Tree to the north. 

The area's namesake is the Joshua tree, which isn't technically a tree, but a member of the agave family. The plant was first named by Mormon trekkers who said the outstretched limbs reminded them of Joshua reaching his hands to the sky in prayer. 

It is easy to find anthropomorphic shapes in their crooked trunks and misshapen tufts, and driving through expanses of them can feel a bit like wandering into a Dr. Seuss forest. 

The park is split into two distinct desert ecosystems. The western portion is occupied by the Mojave Desert, and that's where you'll find Joshua trees, teetering stacks of sand-colored boulders and the occasional rattlesnake. The Mojave is known as the high desert, with elevations above 3,000 feet. 

In the eastern half of the park you'll find the Colorado Desert, a flatter ecosystem below 3,000 feet that is known for milder weather and blossoming vibrant wild flowers if you travel there in March and April. 

The entire park is larger than Rhode Island, and you could fill up an entire week hiking every trail and climbing every rock. But these days a trip to Joshua Tree also means chasing art, music, food and the occasional sound bath (don't worry, we'll explain) through the neighboring towns of Yucca Valley, Pioneertown and Twentynine Palms.

To read more, go here. 

Superman Celebration June 7 -10

Superman Returns star Brandon Routh has been announced as the celebrity guest at this year's Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois, the home of the Super Museum.

Above, the Super Museum in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Superman Celebration is an annual four-day festival sponsored by The Metropolis Chamber of Commerce and the City of Metropolis- The Official Home of Superman.  

Held in Metropolis, Illinois during the second weekend of June every year, it celebrates Superman and all thing super-heroic with featured celebrity and artist guests, a costume contest, concerts, a film festival, and many other family-oriented events.  

Admission to Superman Celebration is free. For more information, please see our website at www.supermancelebration.net.

Above, my visit to the Superman statue in Metropolis, Illinois.

I have never been to a Superman Celebration, but I did visit Metropolis in November 2016 and toured the Super Museum. It is well worth a visit!  Also in town, is a statue honoring Noel Neill as Lois Lane.

Since this is the celebration's 40th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of Superman, this year's event will be a special one.

Graceland Expansion Expected To Bring 1,700 Jobs

Above, a view from the front porch of Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The operators of Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland Holdings, LLC have some ambitious plans for the Whitehaven area of Memphis, Tennessee and if they come to fruition, it could mean jobs for the community.

WBRC-Fox 6 News reported:

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - There are 130 undeveloped acres out at Graceland, and there's a king-sized plan to make Elvis' home and Whitehaven start rocking and rolling. 

"What this is really about is community," said Joel Weinshanker, manager of Graceland Holdings, LLC. 

Weinshanker got emotional during a town hall with Whitehaven residents Thursday night while talking about his parents, and his love for Whitehaven, a place he calls his "second home." 

"You know, my parents were poor immigrants," he said. "They didn't give me a lot material-wise.  But what they did do was give a great moral compass and they really taught me what community is about." 

What the Whitehaven community needs, he said, is jobs.  He unveiled a 3-year plan to create more than 1,700 jobs.  The Graceland expansion includes new exhibition space, a 6,200 seat arena, and a souvenir manufacturing factory that would employ 1,000 people.

To read more, go here. 

Access To Mt. Aso Crater Resumed

Above, yours truly at the Mt. Aso Ropeway station in 2007.

For those wanting to visit Mt. Aso Volcano National Park in Kyushu, there's some good news.

The Japan National Tourism Organization reported:

Partners Information: Access to Kumamoto Prefecture’s Mt Aso has restarted with the new Mt Aso Loop Shuttle Bus operated by Kyushu Sanko Tourism Co., ltd. 

This bus provides alternative transport to the Mt Aso Ropeway, which is still currently out of operation. 

Large sized coaches cannot access the crater area so guests must use this Loop Shuttle Bus. 

The Mt Aso Loop Shuttle Bus is wrapped in Kumamon, the symbolic icon and popular mascot of Kumamoto. The inside is also fully decorated with Kumamon.
Enjoy the ride and the amazing scenery of Mt Aso.

To read more, go here. 

Passport Stamps Becoming A Thing of the Past

Above, some of the stamps in my old U.S. Passport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to inroads in modern technology, the cherished passport stamp is fast becoming a thing of the past.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO - As electronic entry procedures usher arriving passengers more quickly through immigration control at airports around the world, one of the casualties of progress is the time-honored passport stamp. 

While many travelers welcome the improved efficiency, for those who regard passport stamps as souvenirs of their travels, they are going to miss the memories that an immigration stamp can trigger of far-off destinations they have visited. 

As the number of air passengers grows, airports are looking at ways to avoid congestion at passport control, and getting rid of the tradition of stamping passports is one of the solutions. "There is a trend to eliminate the passport stamp to shorten processing times, especially in advanced nations," a Japanese airport official said. 

In Japan, this has seen biometric measures, such as facial recognition, beginning to replace stamping passports as a way of tracking the entry and exit of passengers. 

In a move to speed up procedures, Hong Kong abolished passport stamps in 2013 and instead began issuing computer-generated landing slips bearing the visitor's name, arrival date and date the visitor is permitted to remain until.

To read more, go here. 

Communities Near Yosemite Benefited Economically In 2017

Above, early morning view of Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Local communities near our national parks derive great economic benefit from visitors. Such is the case for communities near Yosemite National Park.

My Mother Lode reported:

Yosemite National Park, CA – Despite a 13 percent dip in visitors and their spending last year, new National Parks Service numbers reflect the continued enormous impact of Yosemite National Park tourism to the Mother Lode. 

Figures shared in this latest NPS report show that 4,336,889 visitors to Yosemite in 2017 spent $451,782,000 in communities near the park; also that the spending supported 6,666 local jobs and had a cumulative $589,343,700 impact on the local economy. The supported jobs figure reflects about a 15 percent decrease from the previous year. 

It is worth noting that 2016 was the year of the highly anticipated and promoted National Parks Centennial Celebration.

To read more, go here. 

Pig Brains Kept Alive OUTSIDE Their Bodies

This is something that is right up Dr. Frankenstein's (or Dr. Niemann's) alley!

The Daily Mail (U.K.) reported:

Pig brains have been kept alive outside their bodies for the first time as part of a controversial new experiment. 

The brains of hundreds of pigs survived for up to 36 hours after the animals had been decapitated, researchers revealed. 

The radical experiments could pave the way for brain transplants and may one day allow humans to become immortal by hooking up our minds to artificial systems after our natural bodies have perished.

Well, if that should ever happen, the scientists or doctors conducting the transplants had better make sure the blood types match in order for the sensory nerves to be fed. Otherwise, the subject just may end up blind like Frankenstein's Monster (with Ygor's brain) in Ghost of Frankenstein.

"Vot goot iz a brain wit out eyes to see?" - Ygor.

To read more, go here.