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Friday, March 6, 2020
News From Graceland
Japan's Seven & I Drops Plan To Buy Speedway LLC
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| Above, a Speedway sign in Gallup, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
This is certainly news to me. I wasn't even aware that a Japanese company was even considering purchasing Speedway LLC, a convenience store and gasoline station chain.
There are many Speedway gas stations in New Mexico and the refinery in Jamestown, New Mexico (just down the hill from me and behind the Flying J) is owned by Speedway's parent company, Marathon Petroleum Corp.
According to the Japan Times:
Seven & I Holdings Co. has dropped its plan to acquire U.S. convenience store chain Speedway LLC, informed sources said.
The price for the acquisition, said to be around ¥2.5 trillion, was too high, a Seven & I official said Thursday.
The decision will apparently force Seven & I to review its overseas operations, which have been an engine of growth.
Speedway, a unit of U.S. refiner Marathon Petroleum Corp., was supposed to play an important role in strengthening Seven & I’s North American business, an analyst said.
But ¥2.5 trillion price tag is equivalent to nearly half of the chain’s annual sales in Japan.
The deal would “weaken Seven & I’s finances,” another analyst said.
To read more, go here.
Places To Celebrate National Space Day
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| Above, the space shuttle Endeavour being transported to the California Science Center through the streets of Inglewood, California in 2012. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It has been my contention over the years that the U.S. Space Program is the most worthwhile government program we have. So, if you are a fan of the Space Program like me, we're in luck!
The first Friday in May is National Space Day, where people can visit many venues celebrating the U.S. Space Program. One of them is the California Science Center in Exposition Park in Los Angeles where the space shuttle Endeavour is displayed.
Tripadvisor has a list of nine places in the U.S. where National Space Day celebrants can see actual artifacts from the Space Program.
They begin with:
You don’t have to hop in a spaceship to go intergalactic. Whether practicing your lunar landing on a flight simulator, gazing at a sky full of stars midday at the planetarium, or reliving the glory of NASA’s most important space explorations, you can reach outer space from every corner of the United States. In honor of National Space Day, here are 9 star attractions that promise out-of-this-world experiences.
To read more, go here.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Exploring A Road In Our Subdivision
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| Above, at the end of the road (at the locked gate) with the road in the background in the direction of Whispering Cedars Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Following some target practice and break, I did some Jeep driving around. The weather was just about perfect at 63°.
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| Above and below, the end of the road at the locked gate. Photos by Armand Vaquer. |
After driving the roads near Cibola National Forest, I decided to explore a dirt road in our community that I haven't been on before. It likely a continuation of the pipeline road that leads west from Whispering Cedars Road (our main road) to the national forest and the shooting area. This section goes east from Whispering Cedars Road.
I went on the road and it goes a little more than a quarter mile to a locked gate. At the gate, is a national forest sign stating that it is closed to vehicles from December 15 to March 31 (just like Cibola National Forest/Six Mile Canyon). Standing near the gate is a short cell tower. There are also homes nearby
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| Above, the short cell tower near the gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Beyond the gate, I can see Maverick Road of the new Mesa Ridge Ranch subdivision. Apparently (and this is only a guess), the land between our subdivision (Whispering Cedars) and Mesa Ridge Ranch is part of Cibola National Forest. Will the gate be unlocked after March 31? That's anyone's guess.
After walking around the area near the gate, I headed back home to call it a day and to have my 3:00 coffee.
Shooting Day
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| Above, today's shooting set-up. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Since today's temperature was a nice and comfy 63°, I decided to head out to the community's shooting area to do some plinking with the Winchester 94.
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| Above, the wooden spool I used as a shooting table. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Although there was a breeze, it was manageable, compared to the last attempt a few months ago.
I set up the target about 50 yards from the big wooden spools that serve as tables for shooting. They are getting pretty weathered and hit by termites and irresponsible shooters who use them as targets instead of tables.
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| Above, getting the target ready for positioning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I also had my Ruger P95 9mm pistol with me, in case I wanted to shoot with it as well. Turns out that shooting with the Winchester was sufficient for today.
It is my understanding that the property that the shooting area is at is part of the Cibola National Forest, with the forest service allowing this area to be set aside for target shooting.
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| Above, the target after the first six shots. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I finished off a box of cartridges and was pleased at the results on the target. This was only the second time I shot with the Winchester. The Winchester 94 has quite a kick to it with the .30-30 ammo it takes. I did not use a scope, I just used the sight that is built on the rifle.
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| Above, I was pleased with the pattern towards the end of my shoot. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Once I was finished shooting, I headed back home to clean the gun (love the smell of Hoppe's No. 9 solvent). I then took a brief break and then went out to do some Jeep driving. Why let a nice day go to waste?
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| Above, yours truly at the shooting area today. |
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
2 "Quickie" Jeep Drive Videos
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| Above, the 1952 Willys Jeep M38A1. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
A couple of "quickie" videos of today's Jeep drive next to Cibola National Forest in Jamestown, New Mexico.
The first one is has the Jeep approaching the community's shooting area and the second one is on a road next to the boundary fence for the national forest with a wide gully in the background.
Warmest Day This Year
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| Above, the mesas from Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Today turned out to be the warmest day in Jamestown, New Mexico this season.
According to The Weather Channel, it got to 61°. This is also their forecast for tomorrow. Spring is definitely around the corner.
I spent most of the afternoon just driving the Jeep around side roads near Cibola National Forest (the forest is closed to vehicles through March 31). Basically, I just explored them to see where they lead to. Some just ended at big gullies or were washed out.
Some of these lands are national forest property and some are Navajo lands checkered here and there.
If the weather tomorrow is like today, I'll probably head over to the shooting area and do some target shooting.
The National Weather Service has tomorrow's high at 58°. We'll see who's right.
Roamin' Around
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| Above, on a side road near the shooting area. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Today was the warmest it has gotten this season, which made it a perfect day to get the Jeep out for some OHV driving. It got to around 58° today.
Although Cibola National Forest/Six Mile Canyon is closed through March 31, there are still some dirt roads to explore. Not all of them are in great condition. Some had washouts, which left huge gullies that only the bravest souls dare to try to cross.
A couple of roads run parallel to the fencing bordering the national forest. Since it has been warmer lately, the ground is no longer a muddy mess.
Before exploring the roads, I stopped to give Christmas some carrots.
Of course, during my drive, I did take some pictures.
Here's some of them:
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| Above, on the side road near the shooting area. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, Christmas enjoying her carrot treats. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, a side road west of the shooting area. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, near the corral and Cibola National Forest gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, the Cibola National Forest gate is at right in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, this road parallels the national forest boundary. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Help New Mexico Sheriffs Fight "Red Flag" Law
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| Above, NMSSA President Zac Fort at the January 31 Second Amendment Rally. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
A message from New Mexico Shooting Sports Association President Zac Fort:
After the passage of SB5, it was clear that legal action would be the next step to fight against "Red-Flag" gun confiscation orders. Through discussions with an attorney, we were advised that our best shot at stopping the law would be through a lawsuit brought by a party with "standing" to sue. This would likely mean that we would have to wait for someone to be "red-flagged" to file suit. However, New Mexico Sheriffs already have standing to sue as they are a party to the orders - they don't have to wait for the law to go into effect. Our Sheriffs have been steadfast in fighting against anti-gun and anti-freedom legislation, and we trust their efforts to stop the "Red-Flag" law from going into effect. NMSSA is committed to helping the Sheriffs with this lawsuit as this is our best shot at stopping the law. To this end, we are helping the New Mexico Sheriff's Association fund-raise to cover the cost of the lawsuit. You can help by becoming a member of the New Mexico Sheriff's Association or making a donation to them, you do not need to be a law enforcement officer to be a member of their association.
This link will take you to their membership form and information to donate: http://nmsheriffs.org/membership/
I sent my regular membership form and dues today.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Good Driving Day
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| Above, Christmas is ready for her treats. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
After this morning's coffee/breakfast gathering at Denny's in the Flying J, I headed off to Gallup to do some needed grocery shopping.
I went to two stores, Lowe's (not the hardware store) and Albertson's to pick up what I needed. After that, I headed on home.
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| Above, the Jeep at the Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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| Above, the small Ford tractor in Christmas's pen is still available. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I did some rough road driving up in the southern part of the community as well as up top in Mesa Ridge Ranch. I finished off the day with carrot-feeding of Christmas. The gelding wasn't in his pen. I am wondering of he got out again or the neighbor sold him or something. It seemed strange not seeing him in his pen. I hope he's okay.
The next few days will be progressively warmer. It is forecast to be about 56° tomorrow. More good driving weather.
Biden Would Put Beto O'Rourke In Charge of Gun Control
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| Above, just so you remember what Beto O'Rourke said during the campaign. |
It's not as if most of us needed a "deal-breaker" when it comes to former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign for president, but what took place yesterday at his rally in Dallas, Texas should give many a damn good reason.
Fox News reported:
In a surprise moment at the end of his Dallas rally on the eve of Super Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden called former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke up to the stage -- and vowed to put O'Rourke, who has said the government should forcibly seize assault rifles from Americans, in charge of gun-control efforts.
Also at the rally, Biden accepted the endorsements of onetime rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, as the Democratic party's moderate wing rallied behind Biden to challenge anti-establishment frontrunner and self-described "democratic socialist" Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.It would do well if you would pass this blog post on to your friends.
To read more, go here.
Touring Four Corners
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| Above, a Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train at Highline. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Jamestown, New Mexico, where I reside, is in the general "neighborhood" of Four Corners, where four states meet. It is roughly 146 miles away.
MultiBriefs: Exclusive has an article on the Four Corners area of places and things to see and do.
They begin with:
The Four Corners area is an amazing and special place. This is the area where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico all meet. You can find national parks and monuments here, along with relatively unknown trails and museums in this region.
Four Corners Monument
At the center of this area is the Four Corners Monument. This is a fun stop for a photo. It is not a national monument but is run by the Navajo Nation with a $5 per person admission fee. There are Native American vendors here if you are interested.
Being in the middle of nowhere, don’t expect running water or flushing toilets. But where else can you get a picture while being in four states at once? Interesting point: modern GPS mapping shows this location isn’t where the corner of the four states should be, but maps have been altered to make this spot the legal boundary.To read more, go here.
Graceland Announces Elvis Week 2020 Plans
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| Above, Elvis Presley's grave at Graceland's Meditation Garden. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The biggest event in Memphis, Tennessee is the annual Elvis Week celebrations that span over a nine day period in August.
Graceland has announced this year's plans for Elvis Week 2020
According to the Northwest Signal:
Elvis Week™ 2020 will mark the 43rd anniversary of Elvis’ passing and Graceland® is preparing for the gathering of Elvis fans and friends from around the world for the nine-day celebration of Elvis’ life. Events include appearances by celebrities and musicians, live concerts, panel discussions, Meet & Greet opportunities, parties, fan events, the new Elite Auction at Graceland, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and much more. Events will be held at the Mansion, the entertainment and exhibit complex, Elvis Presley’s Memphis ™, the AAA Four-Diamond Guest House at Graceland ™ resort hotel and the new Graceland Exhibition Center, home to the new Jungle Room Bar.
The cornerstone event, the CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, will begin on Saturday, August 15, at Graceland’s front gate. Elvis music sets the tone of the evening as fans walk up the driveway to the Meditation Garden. This event lasts throughout the night as thousands of participants gather on Elvis Presley Boulevard listening to music, remembering Elvis and enjoying the memorials that are created by fans along the street. Returning are nightly parties and the live music pavilion at the new Graceland Exhibition Center that will feature continuous live entertainment and a comfortable area for fans to recharge and reconnect.To read more, go here.
Yellowstone National Park Bison Culling Has Begun
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| Above, two Yellowstone bison relaxing on a hillside. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
This season's annual Yellowstone National Park bison management culling has begun this week.
According to K2 Radio:
Yellowstone National Park and other national, state and tribal agencies on Sunday began the annual bison capture and shipping operations at the Stephens Creek area of the park, according to a news release.
The culling begins when bison migrate from the interior of the park to the Gardiner, Mont., Basin, and may continue through March.
The population will be reduced using three methods:
- Public and tribal hunting outside the park.
- Capturing bison near the park boundary and then transferring them to Native American tribes for processing and distribution of meat and hides to their members.
- A quarantine program that results in brucellosis-free bison being moved to tribal lands.
To read more, go here.
Monday, March 2, 2020
More Spring-Like Weather, Body Found Near Flying J
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| Above, the mesas back in December. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It looks like (so far) that we're going to have a good week in regards to the weather. We didn't get the rain and snow showers that was forecast.
The highs will be in the 50s, but the lows will mainly be down into the 20s and 30s. Still, it is gradually warming up and becoming more spring-like.
We could use more precipitation, but what we did get saturated the ground for a long time instead of immediately evaporating into the air. This'll help replenish the water aquifer below us, which is where we get our drinking water.
We had a little excitement early this morning. A body was found near the westbound off-ramp of Interstate 40 in front of the Flying J. The ramp was closed from about 2:00 this morning until around 11:00 for the police investigation. This affected business in the Flying J for a while. One of our community residents thinks there was a shooting. Details unknown.
From the National Weather Service:
UPDATE (03-03-20):
It was a shooting, but there were no fatalities. To read the story, go here.
NM Sheriffs Preparing "Red Flag Law" Lawsuit
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| Above, Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace at the Second Amendment Rally at the Roundhouse on January 31. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
As reported on this blog previously, the state of New Mexico can expect a lawsuit over the new "red flag" law that Gov. "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham signed into law.
Right now, the state's sheriffs are preparing for such a lawsuit.
According to Bearing Arms:
Cibola County, New Mexico Sheriff Tony Mace says he and other sheriffs from around the state are meeting with attorneys this week as they get ready to file suit over the state’s new red flag law, signed last week by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
During the signing ceremony, Grisham said that sheriffs who weren’t prepared to enforce the new law should resign, but Sheriff Mace and other sheriffs are taking the matter to court instead. Mace tells me that the sheriffs will be holding meetings with several different attorneys over the next few weeks to discuss litigation strategies before filing suit to block the law from taking effect.
Mace believes the new law infringes on the rights of residents in New Mexico, and not just their right to keep and bear arms. He says the law establishes a bizarre “civil search warrant” process that violates the Fourth Amendment, and the seizure of firearms of those who’ve not been accused of a crime, much less convicted of one, is also a violation of the Fifth Amendment’s taking clause.
In addition to the constitutional issues at stake, there’s also the pragmatic argument against red flag laws. As Sheriff Mace points out, when someone has been deemed by a court (in a one-sided hearing) to be a danger to themselves or others, the law gives the individual in question 48 hours to turn over their guns. Seems kind of odd to give a dangerous person two entire days to do dangerous things, does it not? And of course, once the firearms are seized, the dangerous person is left to their own devices. Their knives aren’t confiscated. Neither are their car keys. It’s only the guns that are taken away under a red flag law. The dangerous person is left behind, without any mental health treatment at all.To read more, go here.
ACLU Agrees: Red Flag Laws Violate Civil Rights
Who'd have thunk?
According to an article in the American Gun News, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) agrees that "red flag" gun laws violate civil rights.
The article states (in part):
The primary tool anti-gunners have found to get around the Second Amendment is the most controversial – red flag laws. Red flag laws enable ex-girlfriends, neighbors, old bosses, and distant family relatives to get local police to confiscate your firearms without you doing one thing wrong. All they have to do is say they fear you are a danger to yourself and/or others, and you own firearms.
There is no due process. Armed police will enter your home and take your firearms – just like in Nazi Germany.
The totalitarian measure has a singular source: Far-left anti-gunners. Many of them are funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his billions via Everytown for Gun Safety and political funding. Bloomberg and other anti-gunners like him want to disarm civilized society, much like New York City does its most to disarm its law-abiding residents.
While there is a singular source backing extremist laws like red flag laws, a diverse group opposes them. The one uniting principle is a simple and very potent one: Red flag laws violate civil rights. Specifically, they violate the rights to due process, self-defense, and the Second Amendment.
The ACLU cautions against red flag laws and their “impact on civil liberties, and the precedent it sets for the use of coercive measures against individuals, not because they are alleged to have committed any crime, but because somebody believes they might, someday, commit one.”
The ACLU says red flag laws enable a court to violate civil rights without any real evidence someone is an “imminent threat.” The simple, unfounded fear that someone might cause harm to others without any evidence of prior history or overt threats of firearms violence is all it takes to violate civil rights under red flag laws.To read more, go here.
Inmate Files "Red Flag" Complaint Against Colorado Sheriff
Gee, who didn't see this coming?
A Colorado inmate filed a "red flag" firearms complaint against the Weld County Sheriff and staff.
Bearing Arms reported:
Colorado’s red flag is back in the news after an inmate in the Weld County jail attempted to file a red flag extreme risk protection order against Sheriff Steve Reams and staff, claiming that the fact that deputies carry shotguns while patrolling the jail is intimidating, and an abuse of inmates’ rights.
Leo Crispin had his request tossed out by a judge before a hearing was granted, but the case is another demonstration of how the new law is being used to try to game the system and harrass others.
See? Those of us who are fighting against "red flag" gun laws have warned against abuse of the law.
To read more, go here.
Dying Man's Wish To See USS Arizona Memorial Fulfilled
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| Above, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
This is one of those kinds of stories I enjoy reading.
A dying veteran was granted his wish to go to Pearl Harbor to see the USS Arizona Memorial.
KITV Island News reported:
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - A very sick, 86-year-old Washington State man had one wish before he dies: to honor the sailors lost at the USS Arizona. He says, "The main thing on my heart and mind for years has been to return to Pearl Harbor and pay my respects." He got that chance on Thursday, thanks to Dream Foundation, the only national wish-granting organization for terminally-ill adults.
Last week, the foundation flew Eddie Russell to Pearl Harbor. Dream Foundation covered accommodations and travel from Port Orchard, WA to Oahu, and arranged a special tour at Pearl Harbor for Russell, his wife, Constance, and his daughter/caretaker, Kari.
To read more, go here.
Dollar At ¥108.40 In Tokyo Trading
Now that we're in a new month, it is time to take a peek at how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in Tokyo trading.
Right now, the coronavirus has caused a major dent to Japan travel. Many foreigners are not heading there due to the virus and many venues in Japan have been temporarily closed.
If one happens to have a NASA spacesuit or a "Bubble Boy" protective suit and is going to Japan anyway, here's what The Japan Times is reporting on the current exchange rate:
The dollar recovered to around ¥108.40 after falling below ¥108 in Tokyo trading Monday, with buybacks spurred by action from the Bank of Japan to help financial markets fend off impacts from the spread of the novel coronavirus.
At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at ¥108.45-45, down from ¥108.84-84 at the same time Friday. The euro was at $1.1063-1063, up from $1.0996-0996, and at ¥119.99-99, up from ¥119.67-68.
The ongoing outbreak as well as a dismal reading from China’s manufacturing index sent the dollar below ¥108 in the early morning. But the greenback started heading north after an upturn in the Nikkei stock average prompted by a rare statement by BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, who vowed to “provide ample liquidity and ensure stability in financial markets through appropriate market operations and asset purchases.”To read more, go here.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Live Japan: Top 8 Places To Visit In Tokyo
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| Above, the Imperial Palace's "Double Bridge". Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Most likely, the coronavirus that is hitting a number of Asian countries, including Japan, will subside when the weather gets warmer in the spring and summer months, just like flus and colds do.
If one is planning a trip to Japan and wonder what are the "must-dos" in Tokyo, Live Japan has some suggestions of that they consider the "top 8 places to visit".
They begin with:
Chances are that your journey to Japan will begin and end with Tokyo! This one day plan is filled with perfect places to visit in Tokyo. Whether it's your first time or you're a seasoned traveler, you'll find your perfect fit with this list!
Tokyo Orientation
Tokyo is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Japan. Formerly known as Edo, it was a small fishing village that became the center of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s government in the 16th century.
In 1868 it became the official capital of Japan and renamed as Tokyo, and since then it has been rebuilt after being hit by disasters as well as devastated by war.
In 1964 the summer Olympics were held in Tokyo, and in 2020 the Olympics are coming back once again to one of the greatest and most prominent cities in the world. By the late 1970s, the metropolitan area population reached eleven million, and today nearly forty million people live here.
As Tokyo has such a long history and covers a lot of ground, it means that there is a huge amount to see and do – but as Tokyo is so well connected even if you only have one day in this city, because of a layover or a connecting flight, you can really pack in a lot.
To help you even more, you can get a Tokyo 1-Day Ticket, which allows unlimited use of all the subway lines and JR lines for just 1,590 yen, or a Suica or PASMO card, which can be recharged and enable easy use of the subway.
If you are staying longer or visiting again, then the possibilities are almost unlimited: Tokyo Disneyland can take a whole day or two days, there are many recommended area tours such as going to Yokohama, or spend your time walking around and see what you can discover!To read more, go here.
American Airlines Says Squeezing More Seats Onto Planes Is 'Amazing'
For this post, I'll be blunt. The airline industry (in general) sucks these days!
First, they did away with in-flight meals except for international and (very few) domestic flights.
Then they started charging fees for check-in luggage and "extra" carry-on luggage. And, they charge extra for "overweight" luggage.
Next, they started cramming more seats in planes, thereby reducing legroom for passengers.
Some airlines are worse than others. American Airlines is one of the worst. Yet they say that it is amazing that they're able to add more seats and passengers "really" want this.
Inc. posted an incredible American Airlines video in which the company is just "tickled pink" for all of this. See what else they've done to make everyone's flying experience more miserable.
They wrote (in part):
There are two reasons why American says it makes money, in this era of relatively lowered fares (and elevated fees). [Senior VP of Network Planning] Vasu Raja explained:
One, is that we have a much bigger network that enables us to collect more revenue. But just as big and arguably maybe even bigger than that are the number of seats that we have on the airplane.
Isn't there more to being a strong company than just being rigidly focused on revenue?
It's worth asking, given that American's financial performance has actually been relatively poor when compared to its rivals.
Yet watch this video and you get the impression that the company's ethos revolves around the revenue and almost not at all around human beings and their experience.
Any executive who has the gall to tell you that stuffing more seats on a plane is amazing may not have a grasp of what an amazing brand truly is.
Should you have not flown American lately, the airline inserted as many seats as it could into as many narrow-body planes as it could. It reduced the size of the bathrooms to an squirm-inducing squish, removed seatback screens and even reduced the legroom in First Class.As an old airline tagline used to say, "Is this any way to run an airline?"
To read more and see the video, go here.
I just HAD to add this! Where we're headed:
Pretty Much A Day Like Yesterday
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| Above, yesterday by the Cibola National Forest/Six Mile Canyon gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Today is going to be a wee bit cooler with the possibility of some sprinkles this afternoon.
Otherwise, with the exception of the overcast, the day will be much like yesterday.
But, we may be getting some snow showers tomorrow.
According to the National Weather Service:
Horsin' Around Led To Elvis's First Hit
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| Above, the studio where music history was made at Sun Studio. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Some music history and trivia for you, dear readers.
Back in 1954, Elvis Presley teamed up with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black at Sun Studio in Memphis and made music history.
What many don't know is that their first hit was the result of "horsin' around" in the studio.
WKDQ posted:
It was July 1954 when Elvis Presley was teamed with a couple of local Memphis musicians for a recording session at the Sun record studio. They had finished recording a cover version of a blues tune, "That's All Right". It was all right but Elvis, Bill Black and Scotty Moore needed another song for the flip side of what was going to be their first release. They took a break to think it over but they didn't have much time because their studio time was almost over.Do you know what was the song that became a hit? Go to the link below to find out. It also contains a couple of audio videos of the song.
Read More: Elvis Presley's First Hit Was a Remake of an Old Bluegrass Tune | https://wkdq.com/elvis-first-hit-was-a-result-of-horsin-around-in-the-studio/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Most Visited National Parks In 2019
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| Above, an eruption at Yellowstone's Old Faithful Geyser last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Outside Online has posted the numbers for the most visited national parks in 2019.
I managed to visit three national parks last year: Petrified Forest National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Visiting Petrified Forest National Park is easy for me, it's only about 90 miles from home.
They wrote:
For more than a decade, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, and Rocky Mountain National Parks have topped the list of most popular in the U.S. Last year proved to be no different.
The 2019 Department of the Interior visitation numbers, released on February 27, show that Great Smoky Mountains saw 12.5 million visits in 2019, over twice as many as the Grand Canyon’s 5.97 million, which came in a distant second. In total, the national parks system received 327.5 million recreation visits in 2019, a 2.9 percent increase since 2018 and the third highest number since 1904 (topped only by 2016 and 2017—the result of the NPS celebrating its centennial in 2016).
“The numbers once again affirm that Americans and visitors from around the world love the natural, cultural, and historic experience provided by our national parks,” said secretary of the interior David Bernhardt in a press release.
Our other favorite national parks also held their rank. Zion National Park remained in fourth place with 4.49 million, while Yosemite National Park leapfrogged Yellowstone for fifth after recovering from a 2018 drop in visitation due to the Northern California wildfires. Of the top ten, Great Smoky Mountains and Zion have seen the biggest rise in visitors—an almost 25-percent increase over the past 20 years.To read more, go here.
How To Spend A Day At The Grand Canyon
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| Above, the Colorado River continues to carve the Grand Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Okay, folks! We're now in March and the summer vacation season is a little over three months away. Now is the time to start thinking about where to go and see this summer.
One place that should be on potential vacation lists is Grand Canyon National Park. I've been there several times and there's always something new and/or different to see and do.
Columbus Underground has an article on how to spend a day at the Grand Canyon. Mind you, to really enjoy the park, you should spend more than a day there.
They begin with:
The Grand Canyon is one of America’s largest, and most popular, tourist destinations. The canyon itself is composed of peaks and slopes of layers of red rock that drop down several thousand feet. At its base, the Colorado River snakes through for over 200 miles. At different times of day, the colored rocks reflect the sunlight in a variety of colors, causing the rocks to appear purple, blue, yellow, red or orange.
Most of the canyon is contained within Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, although some of it is part of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Prior to receiving national park status in 1919, the area was declared a national monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. Decades later, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The park covers almost 2,000 square miles.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), the first year the park was established it had almost 38,000 visitors; 100 years later it had over six million in 2018. The NPS works with archeologists to preserve the area’s history and culture while keeping the park visitor ready.
The Grand Canyon averages 10 miles across in diameter. It is divided into two parts, the North Rim and the South Rim. The North Rim, which sits about 8,000 feet above sea level, is closed during the winter months, making it harder to access and therefore less popular than the South Rim, which sits at about 7,000 feet above sea level. The South Rim, open year-round, offers shuttle service to trailheads as well as several ideal spots for watching the sunrise and sunset. However, both offer campgrounds, restaurants, and visitor centers during operating hours.To read more, go here.
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