Southern California Gas Prices Highest Since October 2012

Above, gas prices about nine years ago in Tarzana, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People in Southern California are paying the highest prices for gasoline since 2012. 

I remember that time well. Luckily, at that time, I was working within three miles from home, so I didn't have to buy too much too often.

If there was any good reason to move out of California three years ago, this certainly is it.

According to ABC7:

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Saturday for the 12th consecutive day, increasing four-tenths of a cent to $4.547, its highest amount since Oct. 19, 2012.

The average price has increased 11 cents over the past 12 days, including eighth-tenths of a cent Friday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 6.7 cents more than one week ago, 14.8 cents higher than one month ago and $1.368 greater than one year ago.

The Orange County average price rose for the 11th time in 12 days, increasing six-tenths of a cent to $4.513, its highest amount since Oct. 19, 2012. It is 6.1 cents more than one week ago, 16.1 cents higher than one month ago and $1.37 greater than one year ago.

The high crude prices are cited as the cause of the jump in gasoline prices. The cost per barrel for West Texas crude was $83.76 on Friday. The price at the pump wouldn't be as bad if the California gasoline taxes imposed were lower. That's what the dummies in California get in return for electing radical-left Democrats.

Small wonder there's an exodus of people moving out of California.  

To read more, go here.

1960s L.A. Halloween Tradition

Above, a publicity still of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello with Glenn Strange
for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Universal Pictures photo.

Since we're a week away from Halloween, I thought I'd post a little L.A. television history. I've posted about this before, but to paraphrase Universal Pictures, "A good Halloween tradition is worth repeating."

Back in the early 1960s, before late afternoon (between 3:00 and 6:00) television airtime was taken over by local and network news, stations in Los Angeles had kid shows and movies.

On KABC Channel 7, the Six O'Clock Movie was broadcast. Over on KNXT (later KCBS) Channel 2, it was The Early Show movie.

On Halloween The Early Show played Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) whenever Halloween fell on a weekday without fail. It was definitely a Halloween tradition in Los Angeles. It set a good spooky mood for trick or treaters before they headed out into the night. 

That ended when KNXT ended The Early Show to give way for news broadcasts. 

Thanks to advent of VHS tapes and DVD/Blu-ray discs, we can relive those days, provided one has a copy of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in their video libraries.

Weather On The Day After Caturday

Above, the crabapple tree in fall colors. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fall colors have arrived in my yard in Jamestown, New Mexico.

Right now, the leaves of my crabapple tree and oak trees have turned brown and gold. The elms have barely started changing.

Above, the oak trees have changed, but the elms (right) haven't started. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, it is about 61° outside. 

I was sitting out on the deck with D.K. came to eat. She was followed by the last remaining kitten (I don't know where the others disappeared to) that appears to be a female that I'm beginning to call "Tiger". If she would come to me, I would keep her, but she keeps her distance. She makes good use of the Cat's Condo that I have on the deck.

Above, Tiger on the porch today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the National Weather Service, the week looks like this:

This Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 65. West wind around 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south after midnight.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday

Showers likely, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 54.

Wednesday Night

Clear, with a low around 31.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 60.

Thursday Night

Clear, with a low around 33.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 65.

Friday Night

Clear, with a low around 35.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 64.

James Woods Nails CNN...Again!

Leave it to actor James Woods to see through the baloney CNN spews out.

The latest is a Twitter Tweet this morning:

Propane “Armageddon” Coming?

Above, getting the propane tank filled. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before heading off to Quartzsite for the fall Clampout with the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus last week, I had my motorhome's propane tank filled. It was $2.69 per gallon, which, as a new article in RV Travel states, is the national average price for propane. It is about a dollar more than last year.

Trouble may be on the horizon for propane supplies this winter. This is something that I will have to keep an eye on as my home runs on propane.  

RV Travel wrote:

RVers who are still using their rigs this winter would be wise to keep a close eye on their propane levels.

Propane industry analysts are already warning of an “Armageddon” in the U.S. propane market due to low supply, high demand, and the resulting rocketing prices.

Edgar Ang, who is with the research firm IHS Markit Ltd., said U.S. propane inventories are at record lows and will remain extremely tight as the cold weather sets in. Experts are also warning that mean temperatures in the Lower 48 states are expected to drop into the 60-55 degree range by the end of October, and heating degree days (those days that signal the start of the heating season) have already begun in much of the country.

To read more, go here. 

Is the RV Industry Blowing Hot Air About Big RV Shipments?

Above, a new Winnebago Class A RV at the California RV Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

President Ronald Reagan used to say, "Figures don't lie, but some liars figure!"

This could be the case involving the boom in the RV industry. 

For months, we have been told that people have been snapping up newly-built RVs at a record pace. The numbers may tell a different story. There are manufacturing and delivery numbers and then there are numbers coming from new RV motor vehicle registrations in every state.

According to an article in RV Travel:

Every month, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) produces a report showing just how many new RVs have rolled off the production lines. For the last number of months, the RV industry hype on production statistics has been shouted from the rooftops. The most recent report posted was for August 2021 production numbers. Here’s RVIA’s president, Craig Kirby: “The RV industry set a new monthly shipment record for ten straight months as RV manufacturers and suppliers work together to meet the sustained demand from RV consumers.” By the association’s reckoning, the number of new RVs rolling out this past August beat that same month’s production in 2020 by nearly 34%.

But a closer look at the numbers, and comparing them to another set of industry statistics, shows that RVIA’s rooster-crowing may be more hype than reality. To be sure, there has been a greater demand for RVs than in prior history. But analyzing the numbers seems to indicate that industry may not be the golden-egg layer it claims to be. Those eggs may actually turn out to be duds, potentially leaving RV builders in a precarious financial position. It appears to be a matter of RV industry hype versus reality.

Another set of numbers

There’s another, far less widely circulated set of statistics that folks should be scrutinizing. In fact, if we were stock market investors, we’d be real careful to look at these. A small industry group, Statistical Surveys, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has for decades crunched numbers for the recreation industry. Included among their customers are RV production and sales concerns. Every month, Statistical Surveys does its own pertinent analysis and produces a report. What’s the report show?

Statistical Surveys’ report to the RV industry shows numbers of recreational vehicles registered. That is, buy a new RV, and the owner – if they want to use the rig – marches down to their state DMV office and registers that RV. It’s really the only practical way to determine exactly how many of those newly minted RVs are actually being sold – not just marching out of a plant and being parked on a dealer lot.

To read more and see what the DMV numbers show, go here. 

Tokyo Tower To Headline New Retail District

Above, Tokyo Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Plans are underway to make Tokyo Tower the centerpiece in a new retail and cultural development project.

Nikkei Asia reported:

TOKYO -- Opened in December 1958 as a multipurpose radio tower, the 333-meter high Tokyo Tower has stood as a landmark of the capital for over six decades. 

But with the taller Tokyo Skytree (634 meters) opening in 2012, taking over the role as the main broadcasting facility, Tokyo Tower is looking for a new purpose in its second life. 

Real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan has been tasked with developing the area around the red-and-white tower. The company was recently chosen among five bidders by the tower's owner, The Tokyo Tower Company.

The plan involves developing a 25,000 sq. meter area around the tower by 2030. With an eye on recovering international tourism in the post COVID-19 era, the area is set to be one of Tokyo's most iconic shopping districts.

Mitsui and The Tokyo Tower Company will form plans to develop buildings that house retail stores as well as cultural facilities. Mitsui specializes in incorporating parks into its development, and the neighboring Shiba Park, a public park, is expected to play a major role in the project.

The cost of the project and the completion date will be determined in line with the overall recovery from COVID. But the companies expect the new facility to be running by 2030. 

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Welcoming Vaccinated Tourists Starting November 1

Above, evening at the Sheraton Waikiki infinity pool. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few months ago, Hawaii Gov. David Ige asked that people refrain from traveling to Hawaii.

Now that cases of COVID-19 are subsiding, he says all are welcome starting November 1. That is, people who are vaccinated are welcome.

Travel Agent Central reported:

Hawaii will allow for vaccinated residents and domestic visitors to travel to and between the islands starting November 1. Hawaii Governor David Ige made the announcement earlier this week at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, according to the Star Advertiser.

“I think we are all encouraged by what we’ve seen over the last several weeks with the continuing trend of lower case counts,” Ige said at the time. “Our hospitals are doing better, and we have fewer COVID patients in them. Most importantly, our health care system has responded, and we have the ability to move forward with economic recovery. Because of this, it is now safe for fully vaccinated residents and visitors to resume non-essential travel to and within the State of Hawaii.”

To read more, go here.

Biden On Gas Prices: "Don't Have A Near-Term Answer"

Above, a gas pump at the Jamestown, New Mexico Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A year ago, the country was energy self-efficient and prices of gasoline were down.

Now, everything is in chaos. His Fraudulency Joe Biden cancelled the Keystone Pipeline, preferring instead to have oil trucked. Never mind that there's a truck driver shortage. Biden suspended new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on federal land and water. Now we have to rely more on OPEC for oil, whose prices on oil affects gasoline prices. 

During a townhall on CNN (Counterfeit News Network), Biden admits he has no answers. 

From the New York Post:

President Biden admitted during a CNN town hall Thursday night that he has no immediate solution to the problem of spiking gas prices and suggested that Americans would not start seeing relief at the pump until next year.

“My guess is, you’ll start to see gas prices come down as we get by and going into the winter – I mean, excuse me, into next year, 2022,” the president told moderator Anderson Cooper at the Baltimore event.

“I don’t see anything that’s going to happen in the meantime that’s going to significantly reduce gas prices.

“I must tell you, I don’t have a near-term answer,” Biden added before musing on the possibility that he could “go in the [Strategic] Petroleum Reserve and take out and probably reduce the price of gas maybe 18 cents or so per gallon, [but] it’s still gonna be above three bucks.”

To read more, go here. 

New Front Plate For The Beast

A few days ago, I noticed that the Flying J re-stocked their souvenir shelves. This included some alien plates for the empty license front bumper space. New Mexico only has rear license plates, so the front is left empty unless the owner gets a novelty plate to fill it. The plate is a nod to the Roswell incident of 1947 involving a crashed UFO.

I had a New Mexico flag plate on The Beast's front bumper. But I noticed last weekend that the plate was badly faded. The yellow had faded to almost white.

I have an alien New Mexico plate on the front of my Mustang and it is holding up fine. So I decided to get one for The Beast. I bought it yesterday and installed it.

The photo below shows the plate after installation (with my ECV half-plate). The old plate is on the chair at right. Notice the yellow strip on it. The whole plate used to be all yellow like that.

Above, the new plate after installation. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

R.I.P. Jax

Above, Jax with Eric Jacobs a few years ago.

Followers of Nomadic Fanatic (Eric Jacobs) gave him a huge outpouring of condolences and support (4,500 comments and counting) over the passing of Eric's cat Jax. The video he posted yesterday on Jax's passing had to be the saddest video I've ever seen. It is on a blog post of October 19, but updated to include the video. It brought back memories of my cat Siren's passing six years ago. 

I have never met Eric or Jax in person. The closest was when they passed me on Interstate 40 near Iyanbito going in the opposite direction about a year ago.

Anyone who has followed the Nomadic Fanatic on YouTube over the years enjoyed the antics of Jax. I never knew a cat would play fetch like a dog until I saw a video of Jax years ago doing so. I've followed Eric's and Jax's RV travel adventures for about seven years.

Jax had to be euthanized as he was suffering from hyperthyroid, which is not unusual to older cats. Eric did the most humane thing he could. It was tough, but a necessary act of love. It was heartbreaking.

Jax was born in 2010. As he was about 11 years old, I thought that was a bit young. But I checked and indoor cats generally have a life expectancy (on average) of 10 to 15 years. Some live into their 20s.

The two cats I had before Sierra were indoor cats. Buttons lived to 16 years and Siren lived to 18 years. Sierra is now 6. 

Since I did some checking on hyperthyroid, I now know what it is and will make sure Sierra gets annual check-ups. 

Thankfully, we still have videos of Jax to enjoy. He will be missed. 

Live Rounds In "Prop" Baldwin Gun That Killed Cinematographer

Above, actor Alec Baldwin.

Details on the movie set fatal shooting that killed a cinematographer and wounded a director are coming out.

The New York Times reported:

SANTA FE — On a ranch in northern New Mexico, where the cottonwoods and the dusty foothills have formed the backdrop of Westerns since the 1950s, Alec Baldwin was filming a new movie on Thursday afternoon when his character, an outlaw, needed a gun.

An assistant director grabbed one of three prop guns that the film’s armorer had set up outside on a gray cart, handed it to Mr. Baldwin, and, according to an affidavit signed by Detective Joel Cano of the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office,  yelled “Cold Gun!” — which was supposed to indicate that the gun did not have any live rounds in it.

When Mr. Baldwin fired the gun, law enforcement officials said, it struck and killed the film’s cinematographer and wounded its director — and raised new questions about firearms safety on film sets.

The assistant director “did not know live rounds were in the prop-gun” when he gave it to Mr. Baldwin, according to the affidavit, which was made as part of a search warrant application. The affidavit did not specify what kind of ammunition the gun had been loaded with.    

The results were deadly: Halyna Hutchins, 42, the film’s director of photography, was struck in the chest and flown to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she died, officials said. Joel Souza, 48, the film’s director, was shot in the shoulder area and wounded; he was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe and later released.

I find it incredible that live rounds were even at the movie location and that they found their way into a "prop" gun. Talk about gross negligence.

To read more, go here. 

Little-Known Facts About RVs

Above, The Beast at Crazy Horse Campgrounds at Lake Havasu last weekend. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Thinking about taking "the plunge" and getting an RV?

If so, you're not the only one as many others have joined the ranks of "RV lifestyle" enthusiasts.

AOL has posted an article on little-know facts about RVs that's an interesting read.

They begin it with:

Even pre-pandemic, the RV industry was experiencing consistent growth. In the eight years leading up to 2017, sales expanded each year. What’s more, according to a 2019 economic study from the RV Industry Association, the recreational vehicle industry has hit a staggering $114 billion total economic impact in the U.S. annually, from RV sales to industry jobs to campgrounds and travel.

While many industries slowed or stagnant growth, the RV industry was the opposite. According to the Fall 2021 RV Industry Association Report, shipments are expected to reach an all-time high in 2021 with even greater gains in 2022, when a projected 600,000 units are expected to be sold.

Here’s a closer look at some of the little-known, colorful, or otherwise intriguing facts about the RV industry, culled from industry reports, association websites, and statistics research.

To read more, go here. 

I Stand With In-N-Out Burger

There are two hamburger restaurant chains that are my favorites and will not hesitate to patronize each. One is Original Tommy's (famous for their chili burgers) and In-N-Out Burger.

In-N-Out Burger has reinforced my esteem by refusing to capitulate to a tyrannical government in becoming a "vaccination police" company.

From MarketWatch:

An In-N-Out restaurant in San Francisco was briefly shut down by the health department for not enforcing the city’s vaccine mandate, causing the burger chain to retort: “We refuse to become the vaccination police.”

The In-N-Out Burger at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf — the chain’s only location in the city — was shut Oct. 14, KRON-TV first reported Tuesday. It has since reopened, but without indoor dining. San Francisco has one of the toughest vaccine mandates in the country, requiring proof of vaccination for indoor dining, which went into effect Aug. 20.

In-N-Out said it posted signs at the restaurant stating the vaccine requirement, but its employees were not enforcing compliance.

Remember, a mandate is not the law of the land and I totally stand with In-N-Out Burger.

To read more, go here. 

Alec Baldwin Shoots Two, Kills One On Movie Set

Above, actor Alec Baldwin.

Shades of Brandon Lee!

Yahoo! News reported:

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after confirming that a prop firearm discharged by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie, killed the cinematographer and wounded the director.

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s officials said Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer on the movie “Rust,” and director Joel Souza were shot Thursday on the rustic film set in the desert on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe.

Hutchins, 42, was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel, the sheriff's department said.

How in hell does one shoot the director and the cinematographer on a set with a gun loaded with blanks unless at very close range and fooling around? I can see one person getting accidentally killed or wounded, but two? I can't imagine any other scenario for this. It will be interesting to see what the investigation uncovers of the circumstances of this tragedy. 

To read more, go here.

Also from Yahoo! News:

The term “blank’ is a shorthand version of the full term, blank cartridge. Notice I said cartridge and not bullet. A cartridge is a unit of ammunition fed into the barrel of a gun comprised of several parts: The casing (sometimes called a shell); propellant material (gunpowder) inside the shell; a primer on the bottom of the cartridge; and at the tip of the cartridge, the actual projectile (bullet) itself.

When you pull the trigger, the firing pin strikes the primer, igniting the gunpowder, causing an explosion of superhot gasses that propels the bullet out of the barrel. The shell casing is then expelled from the gun as a new cartridge is loaded into the chamber,

A blank is a cartridge that has all of that except for the projectile at the tip. Instead the tip is crimped or otherwise sealed with paper wadding or wax to hold in the gunpowder. Which means, theoretically, when you pull the trigger, you’ll get the bang, recoil, muzzle flash, and an ejected shell, without the deadly supersonic bullet ending whatever you pointed the gun at.

But, remember when we mentioned muzzle flash and superheated gas? That is still very much being expelled from the gun. And bullet or no bullet, that means anything near the end of that barrel is in danger.

 To read more, go here.

Laundrie's Remains Confirmed

After the "partial human remains" were found in a Florida swamp yesterday, it didn't take long for the medical examiner to identify them as belonging to Brian Laundrie.

According to NBC New York:

The partial human remains recovered at the Florida environmental park where Brian Laundrie was last believed to have been a day ago were described as "skeletal," a North Port police spokesperson confirmed to News 4 Thursday.

Two senior law enforcement officials also tell NBC News that the apparent human remains discovered yesterday at the Carlton Reserve during the search for Laundrie include a portion of a human skull.

Apparently, there was enough of the skull to make a positive identification through dental records. The remains were in an area that was submerged until recently. 

I find it interesting that only a portion of a human skull was found, if the report is correct, since Laundrie would have been dead for a little over a month at most. One would think the skull would be intact, unless an animal, like an alligator, crunched it in its jaws. Alligators, snakes, coyotes and other wildlife is known to inhabit the area.

It will be interesting to see what the details are once they are released.

The World Has Gone Crazy

The Looney Left Report

Yesterday morning, I had an appointment to get my Pfizer booster shot at the Gallup Safeway supermarket pharmacy department.

Upon arrival, I was given a form to complete that included some health-related questions.

At the top, for sex, it asks if one is male, female or other. Other?! What "other" sexes are there? Hermaphrodites, perhaps? Or is it the 50 other sexes the Democrats have created?

Really, folks, things have gotten out of hand.

It was a standard form for coronavirus vaccinations, not something Safeway cooked up. It had to have been concocted by some leftist wackos in Washington, D. C. (or maybe in Santa Fe).

The world has gone crazy!

T + L: Is Flying First Class Worth It?

Above, yours truly tying out an All Nippon Airways Business Class seat at a travel show.

After the long-haul flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo in 2015 aboard a cramped (with poor legroom) Economy seat, I have been considering getting either a Business Class or First Class ticket for the next time I fly to Japan (whenever that will be). I have never flown First or Business Class.

Concerning First Class seating, Travel + Leisure asks, Is Flying First Class Worth It? Good question. They delve into First Class seating of various airlines along with photographs of different airline configurations.

They begin with:

Every time you board a plane, there they are: the flight's first-class passengers. While you were at the gate waiting for your group number to be called (and likely stressing about nabbing space in the overhead compartment), they were getting settled into their extra-large seats with dedicated carry-on space. And as you sulk past them toward your narrow seat in the back of the plane, they snuggle in under a complimentary blanket and sip Champagne.

That, you tell yourself, is what flying should be like.

But is the extra space and next-level service worth the pricey ticket? To explore that very question, we've pulled together what it looks like to fly first class on various U.S. airlines, how flying first class is different from business class and economy, and how the benefits change (in some cases, dramatically) when you book first class on a long-haul international flight.

To read more, go here. 

Grand Teton National Park Sets New Attendance Record

Above, the Grand Tetons are reflected on Jackson Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yellowstone National Park's next-door-neighbor to the south, Grand Teton National Park already has set new attendance records this year, even with three months left to 2021.

According to the Helena Independent Record:

Three months before the year is over, Grand Teton National Park has set a record for visitation.

Through September the northwest Wyoming park had hosted 3.493 million recreation visits. Previously, 2018 had the record for most recreation visits in a year with 3.491 million visits. Of the past nine months at the park, six have set records for visitation.

Some of the largest increases in recreation visits occurred during the shoulder season, including the months of March, April and May. Summer visitation (June, July and August) also increased with July 2021 recording the busiest month for recreation visits in Grand Teton’s history.

To read more, go here. 

Supply-Chain Crisis Sparks Hoarding

A couple of nights ago, I went down to Denny's at the Flying J to have a salmon dinner.

When I ordered, the waitress had to go back to the kitchen to check if they had any salmon available. She came back and said they didn't have any. I ended up having an omelet from the 55+ menu (what we call the "geezer omelet").

Thus far, that has been the only instance of a supply-chain related problem I've faced. I guess it depends upon where one is located.

But the "supply-chain crisis" will likely get worse before it gets better.

The New York Post reported:

Parts of the US are now battling food shortages as worried Americans have emptied supermarket shelves amid the supply chain crisis threatening the nation’s economy and holiday shopping.

People are stockpiling everything from canned goods to boxed items and even making a run on milk when it’s available in grocery stores, Bloomberg reported.

The surge in demand comes as two of America’s major container ports in California face a massive pandemic-related backlog.

“People are hoarding,” Adnan Durrani, CEO and founder of Saffron Road, a producer of frozen and shelf-stable meals, told Bloomberg.

“What I think you’ll see over the next six months, all prices will go higher.”

To read more, go here. 

How high will prices go up?

From Fox Business:

Americans will see food costs rise "tremendously" in the coming weeks, according to billionaire supermarket owner John Catsimatidis. 

Catsimatidis, who is the president of Gristedes and D'Agostino Foods, discussed his concerns about inflation and supply chain issues on FOX Business’ "Mornings with Maria," and warned companies like Nabisco, Pepsi and Coke will begin to prioritize products and raise prices in order to get ahead. 

"I see food prices going up tremendously," he told Maria Bartiromo. "[CEOs] want to be ahead of the curve and the way they're doing it is they're dropping all promotions. They are dropping low-moving items."

Catsimatidis went on to say this trend won’t reverse "anytime soon." 

"I see over 10% [price increase] in the next 60 days," he said. 

To read more, go here. 

Major Discovery In Petito - Laundrie Case

Above, Gabrielle Petito and Brian Laundrie.

The media has been reporting over the past several hours that items belonging to fugitive Brian Laundrie have been found. Some have also reported that "partial human remains" have also been found. Maybe a gator got him? The area where the items were found were previously under water.

This does not come as a surprise to me as I blogged that Laundrie is either in hiding or dead on September 21.

The FBI is supposed to hold a news conference on the findings. 

From Newsday:

The Sarasota County, Florida, medical examiner’s office said Wednesday it was called to the massive park and reserve where authorities found articles belonging to Brian Laundrie, the "person of interest" in the strangulation death of his former fiancee and Blue Point native Gabrielle Petito.

The FBI will brief the media at 4:30 p.m. about today’s developments in the search for Laundrie, the Tampa office said in a news release.

To read more, go here.

From The Independent (U.K.):

Police found partial human remains inside the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on Wednesday near where belongings believed to have been Brian Laundrie’s were found earlier in the day. Mr Laundrie’s parents visited the park to examine the items. The Sarasota medical examiner has been called to the scene, as have human remains detecting dogs.

To read more, go here. 

26° Outside! Brrr!

Above, a view of the ol' homestead from down the road a week ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Right now, it is around 26° outside. That all depends upon where the weather report source is from. In a way, I wish I were still in Lake Havasu City as the daytime temperature there is in the 80s and the current temperature there is now 57°.

I expected this and turned on The Beast's holding tank heaters set a space heater inside it and in the GOCO Beast Barn last evening.

I had to up my thermostat inside the house as it feels a little chilly, despite having a space heater nearby. The way things are going, it won't be long when we get some more snow.

I hope the temperature warms up for when I have to into Gallup today to get my Pfizer booster shot this morning. It is just as well since I have some grocery shopping to do. 

According to the National Weather Service, this is what the week looks like:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 63. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 34. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 38.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 63.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 40.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 68.

Monday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Tuesday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.

 

How Much Would You Pay To Visit Yellowstone National Park?

Above, formations at Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few years ago, a backlog of national parks maintenance and other projects of around $11 billion was in the news quite frequently.

A bill was proposed to address this backlog, which was signed by President Donald Trump in 2020.  It dedicated $1.3 billion per year for five years to deferred maintenance projects in the National Park Service's nearly $12 billion.

One of the things done was to increase the cost to purchase the Senior Lifetime Pass from $10 to $80. It may sound like a lot, but if used, it is still a bargain. Luckily, before the price was hiked, I got mine at the $10 price.

Apparently, more is needed to address the maintenance backlog. National Parks Traveler asks, How much would you pay to visit Yellowstone National Park?

They begin with:

A new video (below) on how best to fund national parks, built around the maintenance backlog at Yellowstone National Park, wonders how much you would be willing to pay to visit the park, watch Old Faithful steam and bellow and spurt, and perhaps catch sight of a grizzly bear?

It's not a new question. From time to time over the years Op-Eds appear, either arguing for higher -- much higher in some cases -- entrance fees, others saying the National Park System should be free to enter.

Back in 2017 a poll was released with a claim that higher entrance fees would hurt park gateway towns because, at the time, 64 percent of those surveyed said they would be less likely to visit a national park if entrance fees increased. 

 To read more, go here.

Mount Aso On Kyushu Erupts

Mount Aso on Kyushu, Japan should be a familiar place to fans of Godzilla and related kaiju movies.

Above, inside Aso Volcano Museum in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was where the Rodans met their demise in Rodan (1956). I paid a visit to Mount Aso National Park in 2007. I couldn't see much as a snowstorm blew into the area at the same time I was there. However, I was able to see inside of the crater through television monitors set up in the visitor center.

Well, the old mountain has decided to erupt again.

Reuters reported:

TOKYO, Oct 20 (Reuters) - A volcano erupted in Japan on Wednesday, blasting ash several miles into the sky and prompting officials to warn against the threat of lava flows and falling rocks, but there were no reports of injuries or casualties.

Mount Aso, a tourist destination on the main southern island of Kyushu, sent plumes of ash 3.5 km (2.2 miles) high when it erupted at about 11:43 a.m. (0243 GMT), the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It raised the alert level for the volcano to 3 on a scale of 5, telling people not to approach, and warned of a risk of large falling rocks and pyroclastic flows within a radius of about 1 km (0.6 mile) around the mountain's Nakadake crater.

 To read more, go here. 

Main Features of Hiroshima Peace Park

Above, the Peace Museum in Hiroshima Peace Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2004, one of the stops during G-TOUR (a group tour of Godzilla fans set up by G-FAN magazine) was Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park.

It was a bit of somber visit despite being educational to those interested in World War II history. Still, anyone visiting Japan should consider a visit there.

The Travel has posted an article on the main features of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park that is worth a read.

They begin it with:

World War II took the lives of 75 million people around the globe, leaving destruction and tragedy in its wake. The end to all of that came with even more devastation: Hiroshima and Nagaski, the two atomic bombs that would bring a final, ruthless blow to Japan. While this did signify the end of the war, it also signified what many believed to be the end of the city of Hiroshima.

It's estimated that it took the lives of 140,000 people although the exact number has never been confirmed, due to the long-lasting effects of radiation. Over the next two years, Hiroshima would spend every moment rebuilding but would remember the date of August 6th, 1945, forever. In tribute to those lives lost and as a testament of strength to Japan, the Hiroshima Peace Park was built, featuring unique works that symbolize what life was like the moment that hatch door was opened.

To read more, go here. 

Essential Traveler Tips for Anyone Visiting Japan for the First Time

Above, a view of the rising sun from an Atami ryokan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who are planning to visit Japan for the first time, or for people who've been there and could use a little "refresher course", Leisure Group Travel has posted some tips for anyone visiting the country for the first time.

They begin with:

For many travelers, Japan is considered a dream destination. With its sprawling cities, majestic mountains and enchanting cherry blossoms, the Land of the Rising Sun is a country like no other. However, Japan can present something of a culture shock for first-time visitors. The country has its own distinct cultural norms and values, which many Westerners may struggle to wrap their heads around.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Travel Planning: Mount Fuji

Above, Mount Fuji as seen from an Osaka-bound Shinkansen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With travel to Japan seemingly opening up to those who are vaccinated next month (I'll believe it when I see it), now's the time to study what the country has to offer for vacation planning.

World Atlas has posted information on Japan's tallest mountain peak: Mount Fuji.

They start with:

Rising to an elevation of 3,776.24m, Mount Fuji - also referred to as “Fuji-san” in Japanese, is considered the tallest mountain in Japan. Mount Fuji is situated close to the Pacific coast in the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures in the heart of the large island of Honshu, about 100km to the southwest of the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area. Geologists classify Mount Fuji to be an active stratovolcano, which last erupted from 1707 to 1708. The mountain is considered as the world’s 7th highest mountain peak of an island and Asia’s 2nd highest volcano that is situated on an island. 

To read more, go here. 

Airlines Falling Back In Love With The Airbus A380

Above, the Singapore Airlines A380 I flew to Japan on in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six years ago this month, I flew to Japan aboard a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380.

While the interior was big, I was not impressed with the seating in Economy. There was hardly any legroom and I was getting leg cramps and had to get up and walk around every half hour. This is dangerous for long overseas flights (it is 11 hours to fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo and 9 coming back) due to the risk of developing blood clots in extremities.

I've been since told that poor legroom is a common issue passengers have with all Airbus Industries jets. 

I decided then that I would never fly aboard an Airbus A380 again. When the pandemic hit, airlines grounded their fleets of A380 jets.

Now that it seems that airlines are "falling in love" again with the Airbus A380 as the pandemic "seems" to be easing.

According to Business Insider:

The world's largest passenger plane is making its comeback as airlines around the world are moving quickly to once again shuttle travelers around the world as pandemic-era travel restrictions continue to fall.

Airbus' behemoth A380 stood out like a sore thumb in a world deprived of air travelers early on in the pandemic. The indulgences in air travel and the ability to fly as many passengers in a single plane that the A380 once represented made it temporarily obsolete.

But long-haul flying is returning as countries open their borders. The A380 is once more facilitating vacations, long-distance reunions, business travel, and the countless other reasons travelers have for flying around the world.

Airlines that sent their Airbus A380s to storage are now dusting off the cobwebs and getting flight crews reacquainted with the aircraft. They'll soon fly hundreds of passengers across two full levels of seats.

Although the Airbus A380 is making a comeback, I still wouldn't fly in one due for the reason I already stated in this blog post.

To read more, go here.