"The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga" Trailer Coming

Above, Jonathan Bellés with the Toho Studios Godzilla statue. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Documentary producer Jonathan Bellés has a new trailer on his documentary, The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga, that will be available July 1. He has been working on this documentary since 2014.

Discover the new documentary film about Godzilla, The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga created by Spanish film director Jonathan Bellés who will introduce us to the origin of this legend who will introduce us to the origin of this legend. It’s connections with the Atomic Bomb and the Nuclear Threat are well known, but how has this affected for more than 60 years of Godzilla movies? This documentary film discovers this story through interviews with more than 20 Japanese artists that have worked on the Godzilla movies from 1954 until now. Some of these faces are Akira Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, Akira Kubo, Yukiko Kobayashi, Shusuke Kaneko, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Koichi Kawakita, Ishii Yoshikatzu, Shinji Higuchi among others. Follow us on @Dawnofkaiju and www.451prods.com. 

This trailer is available with English, Spanish and French subtitles.

Above, special effects director Eiichi Asada is interviewed for the documentary at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the website for The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga, go here. 

Malibu Creek Murder Victim Identified

Above, Malibu Creek State Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the last things anyone would expect to happen at Malibu Creek State Park near Calabasas is getting murdered.

CBS Los Angeles reported:

IRVINE (CBSLA)  — The father of two young girls fatally shot while camping early Friday morning in Malibu Creek State Park has been identified. 

The deceased is identified as 35-year-old Tristan Beaudette of Irvine. 

Deputies said they have no leads, no suspect and no motive.
Beaudette leaves behind his wife, Erica, and two young daughters, aged 2 and 4. 

Friend said Beaudette took the girls camping so that Erica could study for a big test she was studying for.

I have camped at Malibu Creek State Park a few times and, more recently, have used their holding tank dump station. I hope the culprit is caught.

To read more, go here.

Need Art?

Above, Asya with the completed "Three Mesas" painting. Photo courtesy of Asya.

One has to count themselves as fortunate in meeting someone who has the artistic talent to be able to create artwork or graphics to suit the needs or wants of clients and is easy to work with.

Such is the case with Asya Lipovetskaya (or just "Asya") of Chakra Graphics.

Above, Asya and Armand at the 2016 portrait unveiling party at the
Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills, California. Photo by Lori Thornhill.

I first enlisted her services two years ago when I commissioned a portrait painting of yours truly. I was curious to see how an artist would "interpret" me in an oil painting. I've always want to have a portrait painting done.

Next, I had her make the "masthead" (or header) for this blog using a photo that I took of "The Mittens" in Monument Valley.

Recently, since I could not find a painting with a Southwest theme that I liked, I commissioned Asya to do an oil painting of the three mesas that are across the valley from my home in Jamestown, New Mexico.

The painting that resulted is, in my opinion, her best work to date. I think the met the challenge with (pardon the pun) flying colors.

Above, her logo for her Chakra Graphics business.

Asya is quite talented in many facets of art. From oil and watercolor paintings to graphics (including logos). Her website has examples of her past work. 

She is open to work commissions. She generally works from her home in St. Petersburg, Russia, but does occasionally travel to the U.S. for work projects. She can be contacted through her Chakra Graphics website.

To access her Chakra Graphic website, just hit the log graphic for it on the right side of this page or go here. 

Bad Reviews of Utah's Iconic Destinations

Above, The Narrows in Zion National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's an old saying, "You can't please everybody!"

Such is the case with some reviews of Utah's national parks. While most rate the parks high (5-star and 4-star), some people were not too impressed and wrote bad reviews for varying, some of them silly, reasons.

From the St. George News:

ST. GEORGE — Southern Utah is famous for its bright red cliffs, winding slot canyons and spectacular landmarks many of which adorn the backs of postcards in gift shops. But among the millions of tourists who visit Utah each year to check some national parks off their bucket lists or take pictures for Instagram, there are a few people who didn’t have anything nice to say about some of Southern Utah’s most iconic outdoor destinations.

To see them, go here. 

Painting Is On Its Way

Above, the painting inside the shipping packaging. Photo by Asya.

The painting, "Three Mesas", is on its way from St. Petersburg, Russia!

Asya had it shipped to Jamestown, New Mexico yesterday. It should arrive in 5 to 10 days.

Above, Asya with the painting before packing it up. Photo courtesy of Asya.

It looks to be well-protected as the packaging requires a power screwdriver to open. Asya said that many artists in Russia use the shipping company for sending canvasses.

Once it gets here, I will be taking it to a Gallup frame shop to have it framed. Asya and I will do a live video feed from the store at the time to choose a frame.

Restaurant Trump Hater and Sarah Huckabee Sanders

We are in a "soft" civil war. We are that divided. Sarah Sanders kicked out of a restaurant is just an example of how we are at each other's throats. - Former Talk Show Host David Gold.

The lunacy of the Left is getting worse and more pathetic. Trump Derangement Syndrome is on the menu at a Lexington, Virgina restaurant.

The Daily Mail (U.K) reported:

Sarah Sanders has slammed the manager of a Virginia restaurant who refused to serve her and seven family members on Friday night, saying: 'Her actions say far more about her than about me'.  

The White House Press Secretary tweeted on Saturday morning that she 'politely left' The Red Hen in Lexington after it was made clear she was not welcome 'because I work for POTUS'. 

Sanders has received intense criticism over recent days as one of the most public defenders of President Trump's now reversed policy to separate migrant children from their families.

Former White House press secretary re-tweeted:

Ari Fleischer
‏
More Ari Fleischer Retweeted Brennan Gilmore
I guess we’re heading into an America with Democrat-only restaurants, which will lead to Republican-only restaurants. Do the fools who threw Sarah out, and the people who cheer them on, really want us to be that kind of country?

 Anyone who approves of such uncouth behavior is an asshole. Pure and simple.

To read more (with videos), go here.

The restaurant: Red Hen: 540-464-4401 comments@redhenlex.com

11 E. Washington St | Lexington, VA 24450

Oops!

Word is going viral on how the Time Magazine cover, "Welcome to America", is a fraud.

According to Yahoo! News:

For its cover this week, titled "Welcome to America," Time magazine cropped the picture to show just the girl, juxtaposing it with a picture of Trump, as though he were looking down at her. 

On Friday, Time published a correction saying: "The original version of this story misstated what happened to the girl in the photo after she (was) taken from the scene. The girl was not carried away screaming by U.S. Border Patrol agents; her mother picked her up and the two were taken away together." 

In Honduras, Denis Valera said on Thursday that his daughter and her mother, Sandra Sanchez, were detained together in McAllen, where Sanchez has applied for asylum, and they were not separated. Nevertheless, "My daughter has become a symbol of the ... separation of children at the U.S. border," Valera told Reuters in a phone interview. 

Honduras' deputy foreign minister, Nelly Jerez, confirmed Valera's version of events. 

Trump, a Republican, persistently accuses Democrats of being weak on immigration. He said in a tweet on Friday that "We cannot allow our Country to be overrun by illegal immigrants as the Democrats tell their phony stories of sadness and grief, hoping it will help them in the (November) elections."

Busted!

To read more, go here. 

Sen. Martin Heinrich: An Open Borders Democrat

The Looney Left Report

New Mexico has two Democrat U.S. Senators, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. One of them is up for re-election this year, and that is Martin Heinrich.

Today, Heinrich and Udall grandstanded at the Mexico border.

According to KRQE:

EL PASO, Texas (KRQE) - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich visited the border Friday, speaking out against the Trump administration's immigrant detention policies.  

"This should've never happened in the first place. These kids should have never been separated from their families. That is the fundamental problem here, and this administration created a disaster of its own making," Sen. Heinrich said. 

Sorry, Senator Heinrich, you are not telling the truth (which is not surprising) as President Trump did not create this situation, which has been around since the presidency of Bill Clinton.

It is hilarious that Heinrich is disingenuous on the immigration issue since he has been an open borders Democrat. Plus, he is also a contributor to the present situation.

In 2015, Heinrich:

Voted against McCain amendment supporting expedited removal of unaccompanied minors in 2015. Sen. Heinrich voted against the McCain amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution, S. Con. Res 11. Sen. McCain's original amendment called for the expedited removal of unaccompanied minors from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Those three countries were the source of the unprecedented border surge along the U.S.-Mexico border during the summer of 2014. 

And, he supported "sanctuary cities" in 2015:

Voted to protect Sanctuary Cities in 2015 (Vitter) Sen. Heinrich voted against cloture to open debate on S. 2146, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. 

Senator Heinrich, along with other members of the Democrat Party, are the authors of the immigration problem, not President Trump.

To see more of Senator Heinrich's wacko votes, go here.

New Mexico should vote for Mick Rich for U.S. Senator!

UPDATE (6/25/18):

It is even more important to vote for a strong border security candidate as Mexico's leading presidential candidate threatens an invasion of illegals. To learn more, go here.

Elvis Concert Photo Album

Above, the "mysterious" Elvis box. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

While going through some stuff in the garage still in moving boxes, I came across something that I didn't know I had.

It is a flat, gold-foiled box labeled "Elvis Concert Photo Album". I am guessing that it was originally my mother's and I or my cousins packed it away after she passed away in 2010.

I opened it and here's what I found:

First, an undated letter from Barron Hilton, President of the Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Here's a scan of the letter:

Next, was a book of concert photos.

Here's the cover:

Here's two pages from the book:

Inside the book was this 8 x 10" photo (I have no idea who the guy on the left is or if the photo was part of the set):

After looking everything over, I did some checking.

According to some sellers:

Rare Elvis Concert Photo album, Includes Original Gold Tone box
Collector's item from Boxcar Enterprises 1977.
Prepared for a concert before his death, then released posthumously the year of his death. 

Time's Migrant "Boo-Hoo" Cover A Fraud!

Time Magazine has stooped pretty low in the past, and they have done so again with this week's magazine cover of President Donald Trump standing over a crying migrant child.

The cover is intended to pull at people's heartstrings over the separation of migrant children from their parents who have been arrested at the border.

The problem is that the picture of the child is a fraud. Her father stated that she was never separated from her mother. They were from Honduras.

According to Fox News:

A little girl shown in a viral photo crying as a U.S. Border Patrol agent detained her mother – and used by TIME magazine to symbolize the Trump administration's family separation policy – reportedly was never separated from her mom. 

“Welcome to America,” declared a somber TIME cover, which showed the picture of the Honduran child Yanela Sanchez next to a towering President Trump. 

TIME called it “an image America could not ignore” and interviewed the photographer, as did other outlets. TIME followed up with another article entirely about the cover and “the story behind” it. 

But multiple outlets interviewed the father of the girl behind the iconic image, and he said he had learned that his two-year-old daughter was detained with her mother at a facility in Texas, and the two were not separated at all. The Honduran government confirmed his version of events to Reuters. 

The Washington Post reported that the mother, Sandra Sanchez, had previously been deported in 2013 to Honduras. Her husband told the Post that she left without telling him she was taking Yanela with her and couldn’t contact her. But then he saw the picture on the news. 

He also said he did not support his wife’s decision to make the perilous trek to the U.S. and that they have three other children together.

The cover is typical liberal B.S. 

President Trump signed an executive order putting a moratorium on family separations. But the Democrats, under Sen. Charles Schumer's orders, are unwilling to cooperate in getting an immigration reform bill passed.

To read more, go here.

Japan's International Departure Tax Starts Next January

Above, a sumo figure at a shop in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a reminder on the International Tourist Tax Japan (called the "Sayonara Tax" by some) will be imposing next year.

From the Japan National Tourism Organization:

Effective from Monday, 7th January 2019, visitors to Japan will pay a 1,000 yen departure tax to expand and enhance the country’s tourist infrastructure — a small tax that will make a significant difference.

Revenue from the International Tourist Tax will be allocated to the following three areas:

1. Create a more comfortable, stress-free tourist environment.
2. Improve access to information about a wide variety of attractions of Japan.
3. Develop tourist resources taking advantage of the unique cultural and natural assets of respective regions

The International Departure Tax is roughly $10.00.

To read more, go here.

Osaka Travelers Cancel Bookings, Spooked By Quake

Above, yours truly at Osaka Castle in 2015. 

The Osaka earthquake on Monday has spooked tourism for that city. Tourists have been canceling room bookings.

I really can't say I blame them. The quake was roughly as powerful as the 1994's Northridge Earthquake that I experienced.

But, if there are aftershocks, they will diminish in intensity as time goes on, just like Northridge. (The Los Angeles area is overdue for a major quake. It has been over 24 years since the Northridge Earthquake, which came 23 years after the Sylmar Earthquake in 1971.)

According to The Japan Times:

Monday morning’s deadly earthquake in Osaka has affected tourism in the region, with travelers at home and overseas canceling bookings in the affected areas. 

At least four people were killed and hundreds more injured in the quake. 

The operator of a hotel in central Kyoto said Tuesday that the quake has cost the firm some ¥4.4 million following cancellations of bookings for about 300 rooms. The reservations included several school trips to the city that had been planned this week. The hotel has 408 rooms. 

“We’re operating as usual, but many people fear for their safety because Osaka and Takatsuki (the site of the quake’s epicenter) are nearby,” said a staffer who requested his name be withheld. “I hope everything will get back to normal within a week, but reports about damage in the area have been hurting (the business) more than I thought.”

One good thing about Japan. Their building codes and technology was a great help in keeping casualties very low in Osaka Prefecture.

To read more, go here.

Charles Krauthammer Dies At 68

One of the most influential, and one of the most interesting, conservative commentators has died.

Fox News reported:

Charles Krauthammer, a longtime Fox News contributor, Pulitzer Prize winner, Harvard-trained psychiatrist and best-selling author who came to be known as the dean of conservative commentators, has died. He was 68. 

His death had been expected after he wrote a heartbreaking letter to colleagues, friends and viewers on June 8 that said in part “I have been uncharacteristically silent these past ten months. I had thought that silence would soon be coming to an end, but I’m afraid I must tell you now that fate has decided on a different course for me… 

““Recent tests have revealed that the cancer has returned. There was no sign of it as recently as a month ago, which means it is aggressive and spreading rapidly. My doctors tell me their best estimate is that I have only a few weeks left to live. This is the final verdict. My fight is over.”

To read more, go here. 

House Next Door For Sale

Above, the property next door now listed for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A "for sale" sign has gone up this past week at the property next door and to the west of me.

The realtor is Coldwell Banker High Desert Realty Company. It is not on Realtor.com or Zillow.com as yet, but it is on Trulia.com in a past listing. The address is 18 West Blue Cedar Loop. Coldwell Banker is the realtor who handled my home purchase.

Above, the view up the street looking south. My place is at the end. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The property includes 2 acres, house and corral. The front of the home is virtually all windows with a view of the valley and mesas.

To contact the realtor:

Coldwell Banker High Desert Realty Co.
917 Highway 491
Gallup, NM 87301

505.863.4363

Speaking of neighbors, I met my next door neighbor today. UPS goofed and delivered a package of mine next door. My neighbor, James, was kind enough to bring it over and introduce himself.

UPDATE (6/27/18):

The listing for 18 West Blue Cedar Loop has been posted at Zillow. To view it, go here.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

About a week ago, my friend Mitch and I went to the Gallup, New Mexico Cracker Barrel restaurant for lunch.

If you happen to like homestyle cooking and a varied menu, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is the place to go.

From Wikipedia:

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is an American chain of combined restaurant and gift stores with a Southern country theme. The company was founded by Dan Evins in 1969; its first store was in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Besides meals, Cracker Barrels have gift stores that are loaded with all kinds of things. They have outdoor furniture & accessories, women's apparel, antiques, quilts, bedding, home decor, candy, CDs, DVDs and other goods.

Above, the Elvis Presley Gospel CD exclusive to Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I picked up this Elvis Presley gospel album (my previous blog with news from Graceland stated that a new gospel album is to be released this summer). It is exclusive to Cracker Barrel. Their CDs are primarily by country & western artists.

Cracker Barrels have ample parking, including parking for RVs.

For more information on Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, go here.

News From Graceland

New Elvis Gospel Album to be Released This August Pre-Order Now Lisa Marie Presley Sings Duet with Her Father on Album's Title Track Groundbreaking New Elvis Album features 14 Original Performances of Gospel Songs with Newly-Recorded Instrumentation and Backing Vocals featuring Legendary Presley Alumnae including Darlene Love, Cissy Houston, The Imperials and The Stamps "Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone," a new Elvis album celebrating the artist's everlasting love of gospel music, will be released on Friday, August 10. Produced by Joel Weinshanker, Lisa Marie Presley and Andy Childs, "Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone" introduces newly-recorded instrumentation and backing vocal contributions from music legends who performed on-stage and/or in-the-studio with Elvis. It also includes a reimagined duet with Elvis and his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, on the album’s title track and spiritual touchstone. "It was a very powerful and moving experience to sing with my father," wrote Lisa Marie in her notes for the album. "The lyrics speak to me and touch my soul. I’m certain that the lyrics spoke to my father in much the same way." Background vocalists on the album include: Darlene Love (who first sang with Elvis on his 1968 NBC television special); Dr. Cissy Houston (who, with The Sweet Inspirations, sang with Elvis on-stage beginning in 1969); Terry Blackwood, Armond Morales and Jim Murray (members of The Imperials, who sang on Elvis' "How Great Thou Art" – with the title song winning the 1967 GRAMMY for Best Sacred Performance); and Donnie Sumner, Bill Baize, Ed Hill and Larry Strickland (members of Presley's longtime backup group, The Stamps). Learn more about the album. JOIN LISA MARIE PRESLEY AT ELVIS WEEK FOR A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT Join Lisa Marie Presley at Elvis Week for an exclusive launch party for the “Where No One Stands Alone” album on Saturday, August 11 at 1:00 pm at Graceland. Celebrate this “once in a lifetime” moment with Lisa Marie as we listen to this powerful and emotional duet with her father of the album’s title track for the first time. Lisa Marie, who co-produced the album, will be joined album co-producers Joel Weinshanker and Andy Childs, along with John Jackson (Senior Vice President, A&R, Legacy Recordings/Sony Music Entertainment) to discuss the making of this incredible new album celebrating Elvis’ love for gospel music. Tickets are $30 to attend the Listening Party and can be purchased online here. “WHERE NO ONE STANDS ALONE” GRACELAND EXCLUSIVE $50 OFFER  The pre-sale for the new “Where No One Stands Alone” release is now available at ShopGraceland.com. ShopGraceland.com has a Graceland Exclusive $50 Offer that includes a limited-edition version of the album on opaque blue 12” vinyl, plus a CD and cassette. Anyone purchasing the three-piece merchandise offer will receive a limited-edition lithograph signed by Lisa Marie Presley. Click here to visit Shop Graceland to purchase the “Where No One Stands Alone” Graceland Exclusive $50 Offer. If you are an Elvis Week package holder, please check your email for more details.

Winnebago's CEO: America's RV Boom

Above, after 3 years, I am still happy with my Winnebago. The Beast at the Beaver (Utah) KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This year, RVs of all kinds and makes are selling in record numbers. In other words, there's a RV boom going on right now.

CNBC has posted a video of an interview with Winnebago Industries CEO Michael Happe on "America's RV Boom".

They posted:

Michael Happe, Winnebago CEO, speaks with CNBC's "Power Lunch" in an exclusive interview about the company's earnings and growth plans.

To see the video, go here. 

Best National Parks For Your Next Vacation

Above, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming made the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer is here and people are wondering, "Where should we go?"

Fortunately, WTOP has posted the "Best National Parks To Visit On Your Next Vacation". It originated from U.S. News & World Report. These will give people some ideas.

It begins with:

WASHINGTON — Nature buffs looking to explore the outdoors have a lot of options in the U.S. 

It’s not easy to choose which national park to travel to on the next vacation. 

U.S. News & World Report released its list of the best national parks in the U.S. for 2018. 

Check out the list in the gallery below. 

When it comes to which park to choose, travelers mostly head toward those locations offering a lot of different activities, according to U.S. News & World Report. 

“The ones that are the most popular are the really large national parks where you don’t only have hiking but you’ve also got fishing, you’ve got kayaking, in the winter you can do snowshoeing in some and even skiing,” said Erin Shields, assistant managing editor of travel at U.S. News & World Report. 

In addition to physical activities to keep moving, these parks also offer opportunities to see and experience local animals.

To see what parks are the best, go here. 

You Just Gotta Love Texas!

Above, the sign is located six miles east of Vega on I-40.

For more, go here.

2.6 Million Foreign Visitors To Japan In May

Above, a statue in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan soared last month.

The Mainichi Daily News reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in May soared 16.6 percent from a year earlier to 2,675,000, a record for the month, the Japan Tourism Agency said Wednesday.

To read more, go here. 

Mountain Lion Kittens Discovered In The Simi Hills

KABC reported:

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (KABC) -- National Park Service researchers recently discovered a litter of four mountain lion kittens in the Simi Hills, a small area of habitat wedged between the larger Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountain ranges. 

All four kittens are females and are now known as P-66, P-67, P-68 and P-69. 

The mother is P-62, who researchers have been tracking since January. Biologists visited the den site while she was away on June 11, locating it after several previous attempts failed because radio telemetry showed that she was still at the den with her kittens.

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone National Park Will Receive $5.9 Million In Grants

Above, an osprey chick in its nest in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yellowstone National Park will be the recipient of grant money from Yellowstone Forever to fund priority park projects.

According to Buckrail.com:

JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Yellowstone Forever is providing $5.9 million to fund 53 priority projects in Yellowstone National Park including the wolf program, trailhead information displays, and black bear research. 

“Yellowstone National Park is a wonderland that deserves our stewardship and support,” said Heather White, Yellowstone Forever president and CEO. “At Yellowstone Forever, we are proud to partner with the National Park Service to fund vital park projects and exceptional educational programs that inspire and engage. We look forward to continuing our work together to help preserve and enhance the world’s first national park for generations to come.” 

Projects funded by Yellowstone Forever include wildlife research and management, visitor experience, youth education, and sustainability, among others. 

Yellowstone Forever is the official education and fundraising nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park.

To read more, go here. 

Input Sought From Yellowstone Visitors

Above, a view from the Old Faithful Inn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This summer, visitors to Yellowstone National Park will be asked for their input on how to improve their park visit experiences better.

According to KPAX:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk says that the only way to solve overcrowding problems in the world’s oldest national park is to learn more about the people using it. 

Park Service officials are beginning a new project to help collect that information this summer. 

When Yellowstone National Park hit 4 million visits in 2015 complaints about overcrowding started to be heard. “How do you feel if you can pull right into a parking space at Old Faithful or if you have to wait three-to-five minutes or 10 to 15 minutes?” asked Wenk. 

“The problem was people wouldn’t leave the parking area until they would use the restroom and there weren’t enough restrooms,” said West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marysue Costello. 

“We brought in more restrooms to alleviate some of the pressures, some of the concerns,” said Yellowstone National Park spokeswoman Morgan Warthin. 

That was a direct result of people speaking out, but Yellowstone doesn’t want to wait for complaints. [We want] t understand from our visitors what their experience is like and how they move through the park,” said Warthin. 

This summer, some visitors to Yellowstone National Park will be asked questions about their visit. 

To read more (including a video), go here. 

Running Around Gallup

Above, Gallup's Frame 'N Art had a number of frame styles to choose from. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I went into Gallup to take care of several things.

First, was to get an estimate on my Mustang's driver's side door (that won't close right) at a body shop. Unfortunately, they did not want to bother with it. For a professional body shop, one would think that they would know how to repair something that is not enormously complex. I guess they have a lucrative business enough to be able to turn down work.

Next, I headed to Pep Boys for two tires. I ordered them last week and they just arrived in stock. While waiting for the tires to be mounted, I headed to the local Scottish restaurant for breakfast and then picked up a shirt at Boot Barn (they are in the same shopping center as Pep Boys).

Above, four frame styles I liked. The numbers indicate
 the order of preference. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After that was done, I went to Frame 'N Art to see what picture frame styles they had. I saw four that I like. (While there, I sent a number of photos of them to Asya in St. Petersburg, Russia to get her opinion. I am waiting to hear back from her.) 

Afterwards, I was going to go to another body shop (located on the east side of Gallup) when, a few blocks away from the frame shop), I spotted the Ford dealership's body shop. So I decided to give them a try for an estimate. They gave me an estimate (saying it's the door, not the door pillar that the first body shop said was the problem). While there, I met a new neighbor who lives a couple of blocks away from me. She works in the body shop office. Small world!

When that was done, I headed off to Albertson's supermarket to pick up a few things and then went on home.

Visit A National Park...For Your Health

Above, a view of the Grand Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that visiting a national park or pretty much any kind of natural environment has health benefits?

According to an article in Next Avenue, it does.

They wrote:

Frederick Law Olmsted was a visionary. Recognizing a need in society that many others missed in the 1800s, he designed the incredible grounds of New York City’s Central Park. 

He knew that people of all ages, whether in urban or rural areas, need to spend time outside — basking in the sun, walking through a park, running against the wind or simply opening a window for some fresh air. 

This philosophy has stood the test of time and now has scientific research to back it up. Finnish Forest Research Institute found that people began to feel psychologically restored after just 15 minutes of sitting outside in a park or forest. 

The good news for everyone is that it’s pretty easy to get outside and add at least one new healthy activity into your life, and you can likely do it at a park near you. 

To read more, go here. 

Osaka Earthquake Disrupts Transit Systems

Above, restaurant signs in Osaka's Dotonbori district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Osaka Prefecture has disrupted transportation services in the region.

Travel Agent Central reported:

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Japan at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time Monday morning. The earthquake struck north of Osaka and affected large parts of western Japan, including Kyoto, ABC News reports. The earthquake poses no tsunami risk, according to The Japan Meteorological Agency. 

According to the latest update from the Japan National Tourism Organization, there are still flight delays and cancellations to and from Osaka International Airport, but all highways in the Kansai region are passable and ferries are “mostly” on schedule. 

The tourism organization also stated that the Tokaido Shinkansen train station has resumed operations, though some routes on the Sanyo Shinkansen, JR, Osaka Metro, Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Electric Railway, Kintetsu Railway, Keihan Railway, and Nankai Electric Railway are still under suspension, causing cancellations and delays.

To read more, go here. 

Do Not Feed Yellowstone National Park Bears!

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been forbidden to feed bears in Yellowstone National Park for decades. But some stupid people are not heeding the warnings and are doing so anyway.

Feeding Yellowstone bears is a death sentence, for the bears.

Action News Now reported:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. - Yellowstone Park officials are sending out the obligatory warning, do not feed the bears. 

It turns out some people are not heeding that warning and it’s becoming more obvious as bears start approaching more vehicles in the park. 

When that happens, they have to take action. 

Three people have been killed by bears in Yellowstone since 2012.

Why is it a death sentence for bears that have been fed by park visitors? Because once a bear becomes conditioned to human foods, park officials have to remove and euthanize that bear.

To read more, and see a video, go here. 

Painting Almost Ready To Be Shipped

Above, the painting is almost ready to be shipped.

Asya sent the above photo a little while ago of the painting.

She and her dad (photo above) are checking the dryness to see when it would be safe to ship it from St. Petersburg, Russia to Jamestown, New Mexico. She believes it is ready now, but thinks it would be safer to wait until this weekend to ship it.

She is very pleased with how it turned out. I told her that I think it is her masterpiece.