7 Pixar's "Cars" Location Inspirations

Above, the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe that Pixar's Cars was released back in 2006.

Many locations, some of which are on Historic Route 66, served as inspirations for some of the movie's features. 

Roadtrippers has listed seven iconic Route 66 locations that inspired the movie.

They begin with:

Nearly two decades after its debut, it’s almost impossible to travel along any portion of Route 66 and not see several references to Disney Pixar’s 2006 animated movie Cars. Inspired by director John Lasseter’s real-life cross-country road trip, the film still draws families and fans to iconic attractions featured (or riffed on) in the movie, including the remaining Wigwam Villages, trading posts, curiosity shops, and vintage filling stations. 

Here are seven real-life locations that inspired the makers of Cars. 

To see what they are, go here. 

Mississippi Legislature Votes To End Sales Tax On Precious Metals

New Mexico is one of the few states left that imposes a sales tax to precious metals on investors. The list is getting smaller as the Mississippi state legislature (both houses) voted overwhelmingly to end the practice.

The legislation is now headed for the governor's signature.

FXStreet reported:

State lawmakers of both houses have just voted overwhelmingly to exempt physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion from the Mississippi state sales tax, sending the bill to Governor Tate Reeves (R) for his signature.

Senate Bill 2019, sponsored by Sen. Chad McMahan (R – 6), passed yesterday out of the full senate by a vote of 47-2. This afternoon, Rep. Jody Steverson’s identical House Bill 1661 passed out of the full house chamber on an overwhelming voice vote.

Backed by the Sound Money Defense League, Money Metals Exchange, and in-state Mississippi dealers and investors, the legislative effort built upon last year's momentum. In 2022, a similar sales tax exemption bill had passed out of the Mississippi House of Representatives overwhelmingly but it missed a deadline in the Senate needed to receive a hearing.

If Gov. Reeves signs the bill next week (or if he simply chooses not to veto it), Mississippi will become the 43rd state to exempt sales of sound money from state sales tax. The effective date is July 1, 2023.

Every one of Mississippi’s neighbors (Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee) have already stopped taxing the monetary metals. Most recently, Tennessee ended this tax in 2022, and Arkansas and Ohio eliminated this tax in 2021. 

If the New Mexico legislature can get on the ball and eliminate the sales tax on precious metals, they will be joining a vast majority of states who have previously ended the practice.

To read more, go here.

National Association For Gun Rights Preparing To Sue New Mexico

“A Law repugnant to the Constitution is void.” - Chief Justice Marshall, Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Santa Fe, New Mexico politicians are trying to infringe on citizens' gun rights by passing insane laws and sending them to the governor for signature.

However, the National Foundation For Gun Rights (a.k.a. National Association For Gun Rights) has put the legislature on notice.

They posted on Facebook:

We just sent a legal warning from NFGR President Dudley Brown to the New Mexico Legislature: Pass a semi-auto ban and we will sue.

 

Bruen Attorney: Where 2nd Amendment Lawsuits Stand Today

In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has made important decisions on the Second Amendment in their  in Heller and Bruen cases.

Unfortunately, some liberals are trying to skirt the law and the SCOTUS decisions. If anyone needs to view this video, it is liberal legislators, judges and attorneys.

The Bruen attorney explains where the Second Amendment lawsuits stand today in a YouTube video.

The summary of the video:

MUST WATCH INTERVIEW: NYSRPA v. Bruen was decided by the Supreme Court about 8 months ago and much has happened in America's courts since then.  David Thompson, the lawyer whose firm commenced NYSRPA v. Bruen, discusses where the 2nd Amendment stands in America's courts and how best to understand Bruen as applied to current gun control controversies. Very geeky legal discussion here. Mark Smith conducts this breaking news interview.

Snow Tonight Through Thursday

Above, from last week's storm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here we go again!

From the main page of the National Weather Service:

A massive winter storm will impact the Four Corners region and central Rockies into the Upper Midwest and New England the next few days, while a slowly developing storm will drop down the West Coast to deliver mountain snow and even low elevation snowfall. All of these locations will see moderate to extreme winter impacts with travel not advised in the Upper Midwest due to blizzard conditions.

The storm is moving in. It rained a little today while a group of us were at Denny's in the Flying J this morning and it has been misting this afternoon. 

Starting tonight, we will be having snow here in the Four Corners though Thursday.

This Afternoon

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Southwest wind around 20 mph.

Tonight

A chance of rain showers before 8pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 8pm and 2am, then snow showers likely after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph increasing to 30 to 35 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Wednesday

Snow showers, mainly before 11am. Areas of blowing snow. Temperature falling to around 25 by 5pm. Windy, with a west wind 35 to 40 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Wednesday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the morning.

Wednesday's Storm

There's a storm coming tomorrow.

Here's what the National Weather Service's Albuqurque bureau posted on Facebook on the possible snowfall:

A high wind winter storm is on track to impact NM Wed. Peak gusts of 50-70mph are possible for many areas, reaching up to 80+ mph over the Sacramento Mts by Ruidoso. Snow and blizzard conditions possible will focus along and west of the Cont'l Divide and northern mtns. 

Record Number of Guns Seized At Airports

Long before the creation of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) by the federal government in the aftermath of September 11, I would occasionally pack a pistol in my luggage.

Those were the days when one could check in their locked luggage at the airport. Now, one cannot check in their locked luggage. It has to be unlocked.

One can still fly with their gun in their checked luggage, but the rules are a little complex. I don't even bother traveling by air with a gun anymore. It's just not worth the hassle.

The New York Post has an article on the record number of guns seized by the TSA. People not following the rules will be fined and have their firearms confiscated.

The article begins with:

US flyers were caught packing heat at record levels last year, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday.

TSA agents seized 6,542 guns, almost all of which were loaded, at the nation’s airports in 2022, an average of 18 a day — the highest ever recorded, the agency said.

“What we see in our checkpoints really reflects what we’re seeing in society, and in society, there are more people carrying firearms nowadays,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said.

But Pekoske insisted that the figures are no indication of a potential spike in would-be hijackings or terrorism. The bulk of the gun-toting travelers appeared to simply forget they had a gun, he said.

The number of guns intercepted at US airports has risen every year since 2010, except for the pandemic-tainted year of 2020, when air travel dipped, the agency said. Last year’s gun grab was about a 10 percent increase over the record-setting year before.

To read more, go here.

To fly with a firearm and ammo, the TSA has a webpage with the procedures. To view it, go here.

Liberal Logic On Gun Control

 

History and Significance of Silver Eagle Coins

Above, a 2023 American Silver Eagle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following article is on American Silver Eagle Coins, but the image that accompanies the The Magazine Plus article is of the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar (90% silver, by the way). That error should have been immediately caught and corrected.

Oh, well. At least I have the correct coin's image with this post.

However, the article gives a comprehensive look at the history and significance of "America's most coveted collectible."  

They begin it with:

(The Magazine Plus Editorial):- New York City, New York Feb 17, 2023 (Issuewire.com) – Silver Eagle Coins are collectible coin that has been treasured by collectors and investors for decades. These coins are the official silver bullion coin of the United States, and they have a rich history and significance that is worth exploring. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history and significance of Silver Eagle Coins, and why they are so valued by collectors and investors alike.

 To read the full article, go here.

TheTravel: The Ultimate Guide To Roswell & Things To Do

Above, Roswell's famous welcome sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer

A few months after moving to New Mexico from California, I attended the UFO Festival in Roswell. It was a fun and interesting event held annually around Independence Day.

Along with the festival, I visited the Roswell International UFO Museum and Research Center. It had many exhibits along with a seven-foot Gort from The Day The Earth Stood Still. 

Above, yours truly in the Roswell Visitor Center with two friendly aliens.

TheTravel has posted "Attention Extraterrestrials: The Ultimate Guide To Roswell & Things To Do".

They begin it with:

Driving along Highway 285 from the south towards Roswell through the New Mexico desert, travelers may be a little surprised to come across life-size cut-outs of an alien ship, little green men, and some locals trying to befriend them with pie. Coming into the city from any direction there is ample warning of the wacky, weird, and wonderful still to come.

And there’s plenty still to come.

Roswell, in Chaves County, New Mexico, has fully embraced the “Roswell Incident” UFO brand with out-of-this-world museums, kitschy gift stores, and a number of roadside attractions. Whether coming in from the north, south, west, or east, visitors are greeted by signs decorated with spacecraft, and the universally recognized androgynous alien with the oversized head, large almond-shaped eyes, Voldemort nose, and long lanky arms.

Roswell was founded in 1871 by businessman Van C. Smith who named the town after his father, Roswell Smith. After a slow start, the town’s growth and development took off when an aquifer was discovered in 1890 and continued with the arrival of the railroad in 1892.

Today Roswell is home to 50,000 residents and a booming tourist industry built around an unidentified flying object crashing in a nearby ranch in 1947.

It soon became the focus of the “flying saucer” craze of the 40s and 50s and since the 1970s, the city has cashed in on the controversy surrounding the alleged crash and subsequent military “cover-up”.

It has been explored in books, TV shows, and films, culminating in the now-debunked footage “Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction” released in 1995. All the information about this intriguing story can be gleaned at the International Museum and Research Center on South Main Street – the first stop on our itinerary in the ultimate travel guide to Roswell, New Mexico.

Above, Gort at the Roswell International UFO Museum and Research Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Above, aliens and their flying saucer in the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

NMSSA Legislative Update 2/19/23

On Friday the 17th, the House Judiciary Committee heard both HB100, the 14-day waiting period bill, and HB101, the ban on the sale of semiautomatic rifles and registration of currently owned ones. HB100 was passed out of the committee on a party-line vote of 6-4, it now heads to the House Floor. There was a second committee substitute for HB101, after the first one in House Consumer and Public Affairs. Public testimony was heard on the bill, but it wasn't voted on at Friday's meeting - so it is still in the House Judiciary Committee. The new version has yet to be made available to the public. On the Senate side, SB44, the ban of carrying firearms within 100ft of a polling place, both open and concealed, passed the Senate floor on a 28-9 vote. Two Republicans joined all Democrats present in voting for the bill. Here is how your State Senator voted (or did not vote). The bill now heads to the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee. Right before the filing deadline, two more anti-gun bills were filed. SB427 is another version of a 14 day waiting period. The bill has the same aim, but it uses different language to accomplish it. Also, SB428, a bill targeting firearm retailers and manufacturers was filed. The bill is an attempt to circumvent the Federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act through New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act. The bill would try make it easier to sue a firearm manufacturer or retailer in New Mexico. Both bills are in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. We are now more than halfway through with the session, if you have followed sessions before, you know that the pace and intensity picks up significantly in the second half. Right now, there are no anti-gun bills scheduled for committee hearings, but that can change very quickly and several bills could be heard this week. We encourage you to contact committees and your legislators today to ask them to oppose bad bills.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

To begin this week, we have one of the most popular bands from the 1980s, Duran Duran. 

They did the main theme for the 1985 (and Roger Moore's swan song) James Bond movie, A View To A Kill. They co-wrote the main theme with composer John Barry.

From Wikipedia:

Duran Duran (/djʊˌræn djʊˈræn/) are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer and bassist Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and guitarist/bassist John Taylor. With the addition of drummer Roger Taylor the following year, the band went through numerous personnel changes before May 1980, when they settled on their most famous line-up by adding guitarist Andy Taylor and lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.

When Duran Duran emerged they were generally considered part of the New Romantic scene. Innovators of the music video, Duran Duran were catapulted into the mainstream with the introduction of the 24-hour music channel MTV. The group was a leading band in the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US in the 1980s. Photographer Denis O'Regan, who captured the band during their 1984 tour, commented "Duran Duran in America was like Beatlemania."

Although still active, Duran Duran has undergone many personnel changes over the years.

For this week, here is their 1993 hit, "Come Undone".

Are New Mexico Balloons Endangered By Joe Biden?

Above, are these balloons at the Red Rock Balloon Rally in danger from Joe Biden? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Earlier today, a friend asked me when the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta will be taking place this year. I didn't know, but I did mention that the Gallup Red Rock Balloon Rally ascension will be taking place in December. 

He strongly hinted that given recent balloon shoot-downs by His Fraudulency, it might be a good idea to keep the balloons grounded.

That was before I saw the following on Piñon Post:

On Friday, Tucker Carlson, host of Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight, pondered what a “helpful” balloon is after Kamala Harris recently said in an interview that the Chinese spy balloon was “not helpful.”

 “Surely and certainly, that balloon was not helpful, which is why we shot it down,” Harris said in an interview with NBC News.

Carlson said in his monologue, “A new policy has been announced by Kamala Harris, and that is that all ‘non-helpful’ balloons will be shot down.”

“Now, unfortunately, hot air balloon season is starting soon in Albuquerque and around the country. Are they going to be shot down? Are they helpful balloons or non-helpful balloons ‘in terms of’ shooting them down?”  

He added, “Balloonists across America need some clarification on that.” 

That would also include the Gallup balloonists as well. Since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is a friend and ally of Biden, maybe she should intercede with him.

To read more and view Carlson's monologue, go here.

2023 Gallup Area Rodeos

Above, the 2022 WildThing Championship Bull Riding. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last evening, I decided to head over to the El Rancho Hotel & Motel for some chicken enchiladas. Before going into the restaurant, I spotted some Gallup Visitor's Guide booklets on the front desk. Since they were free, I took one and headed over to the restaurant. 

Inside the guide, is a page of 2023 rodeo events to be held at Red Rock Park. The list is not complete as it doesn't include surrounding areas that also hold rodeos. While there, I added the rodeos to my phone's calendar.

I did some digging this morning and added a few more. This blog posting will be updated when more information is available.

To me, rodeo season is the best time of the year to live in the Gallup, New Mexico area.

Above, 2022 Best of the Best Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thus far, here's a list of rodeos to be held at Red Rock Park and surrounding areas:

NMHSRA/NMJHRA Rodeo - April 22-23.

Gallup Lions Club Youth Rodeo - June 15.

73rd Annual Gallup Lions Club Open Show Rodeo - June 16-17.

USTRC/Red Rock Classic Team Roping - May 13-14.

8th Annual Best of the Best Rodeo - June 21-June 24.

NSPRA Grants Wild West Days Rodeo (Grants, NM) - June 30-July 4.

Route 66  Showdown NTR Team Roping - TBA.

Navajo Nation Fair (Window Rock, AZ) - July 2-4.

WildThing Championship Bull Riding - July 7-8.

Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial -  August 4 - 13, 2023.

Turquoise NTR Team Roping Event - TBA.

Remembering Noel Neill

Above, a "Superman Week" group shot with Noel Neill (in the Superman shirt) with yours
 truly standing behind her in July 2001. Photo courtesy of Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Actress Noel Neill (1920 - 2016) has the sole distinction of playing Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane to two different actors playing the Man of Steel, Kirk Alyn and George Reeves. I first met her in July 2001 when we held the "Superman Week" ceremony with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors celebrating 50 years of television's Adventures of Superman.

Do You Remember has an article on Neill that remembers her contributions to the live-action Superman mythos. 

It begins with:

Actress Noel Neill, who was born on November 25, 1920, and would have been celebrating her 103rd birthday this year, holds a unique place in the history of Superman: she is the only actress to have played reporter Lois Lane opposite two different actors portraying the Man of Steel, Kirk Alyn and George Reeves.

A successful model in her teens, she was reportedly the second most popular pin-up girl for soldiers in World War II, right behind Betty Grable. She spent a number of years starring in B-features for Monogram Pictures. In 1945 producer Sam Katzman cast her in his series of “Teen Agers” musical comedies as aggressive high school newspaper reporter Betty Rogers. As such, she’d already proven herself to Katzman when he decided to turn the comic book superhero Superman into the star of a pair of movie serials — the weekly chapter plays that fans would go to the theatres to check out each Saturday — Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950) and needed someone to play reporter Lois Lane.

Above, the Noel Neill "Lois Lane" statue in Metropolis, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

California State Parks Proposing To Penalize No-Shows

Above, Gallo Campground at Chaco Canyon had a number of no-show reserved campsites. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

California in recent years has not been known for common-sense beneficial legislation. The state's government is packed with one-party lunatics.

However, that being said, there is a new bill that has been introduced that would penalize people who make campsite reservations in state parks but don't show up to use them. I am all for this. 

I noticed a lot of reserved campsites at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico that had no occupants. They didn't bother to show up.

No-shows have been a problem since they prevent others from using those reserved campsites. The bill, Assembly Bill 618 would hit those inconsiderate people right in their pocketbooks.

According to RV Travel:

One of the biggest issues that RVers report in our Campground Crowding column is the number of empty campsites caused by no-shows. Now, finally, something is being done about it at California state parks.

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a California state lawmaker, is proposing a bill that would hit the no-show right in their wallet and make it difficult to book again at any of California’s 280 state parks.

Assembly Bill 618 would change the current policy and overhaul the reservation system.

To read more, go here. 

Best Road Trips In Yellowstone National Park

Above, Lower Yellowstone Fall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I was in Yellowstone National Park (2019), I drove my motorhome from the south entrance from Grand Teton National Park to Old Faithful Geyser.

As I expected, the roads were clogged with vehicles. After viewing the geyser, we headed back out of the park. I wasn't planning on going to Yellowstone, but a friend who was with me wanted to see it.  

My previous trip there (2015) was much more enjoyable as my daughter and I took two tours of the park with Buffalo Bus Touring Co. The roads were crowded, but at least I let someone else do the driving. Additionally, they picked us up at the KOA Kampground we stayed at in West Yellowstone, Montana.

However, if one has more patience than I who doesn't mind driving in such crowded conditions, Lonely Planet has an article on five of the best Yellowstone road trips.

They begin with:

Yellowstone National Park is vast.

It encompasses more than 3400 sq miles and it includes more than 450 miles of roads, providing plenty of space to explore. Driving yourself means you can spend as much time as you like doing the best things that Yellowstone has to offer, whether that's gazing at geysers or hiking the 900 miles of trails.

Be sure to keep your eye on the gas gauge and bring water and food along with you. Also, check the roads you'll need will be open when you plan on coming. Most of the park's roads are closed for much of the year (generally closing in early November before reopening in April or May). Services within the park are also very limited outside of peak season, so be prepared.

Parking can be difficult at popular spots — try to aim for early or late in the day to avoid having to wait for a spot. If you're driving an alternative fuel vehicle, be sure to check on fueling station availability. 

Driving yourself offers freedom and the opportunity to explore some lesser-known sites that might not be part of organized tours, but be sure to see the park's tips for drivers. If you'd rather leave the driving to someone else, there are numerous tour options available. However you visit, brush up on bear safety and read the park's safety advice on wildlife, environmental hazards, hydrothermal features, and other things to keep in mind. Here are the five best road trips in Yellowstone National Park.

To read more, go here.

Turmoil in Courts on Gun Laws

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94.

Snowflake liberals are upset over a recent Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment and the lower courts in states around the country may be in "turmoil" as a result. This is good for those who support the Second Amendment. 

U.S. News & World Report has posted an article on what's been happening as a result.

They begin it with:

WASHINGTON (AP) — A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Second Amendment is upending gun laws across the country, dividing judges and sowing confusion over what firearm restrictions can remain on the books.

The high court's ruling that set new standards for evaluating gun laws left open many questions, experts say, resulting in an increasing number of conflicting decisions as lower court judges struggle to figure out how to apply it. 

The Supreme Court’s so-called Bruen decision changed the test that lower courts had long used for evaluating challenges to firearm restrictions. Judges should no longer consider whether the law serves public interests like enhancing public safety, the justices said.

Under the Supreme Court's new test, the government that wants to uphold a gun restriction must look back into history to show it is consistent with the country’s “historical tradition of firearm regulation."

To read more, go here. 

8 Best Things To Do In Yosemite

Above, the bottom of Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have been to Yosemite National Park, the last time being in 2016. I reserved (early) a campsite in Yosemite Valley at North Pines Campground in April. A few months later, I drove through Yosemite on Tioga Road from U.S. 395 in the Owens Valley to U.S. 99 in the San Joaquin Valley.

Although it rained much of the time I was camping there, I did enjoy the experience.

Lonely Planet has an article on the 8 best things to do in Yosemite National Park. 

They begin it with:

Yosemite National Park is one of those dazzling, large-than-life destinations with a beauty that must be seen firsthand to truly appreciate it.

Renowned landscape photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams did a good job introducing the public to this iconic park in the 1930s, when he began documenting its magic in black and white. Close to 100 years later, Yosemite remains an iconic photographic locale attracting close to five million visitors each year.

In California’s Sierra Mountains, Yosemite is the third-oldest national park in the US, established in 1890 and home to more than 700 miles of hiking trails, numerous waterfalls and captivating granite cliffs and buttresses with names like Half Dome and El Capitan. You’ll also find towering sequoia trees, diverse wildlife, sparkling turquoise and aquamarine lakes, scenic byways and a historic lodge that takes you back about a century in time.

Here are our 8 top picks for the best things to do in Yosemite National Park.

Above, a morning view of Half Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

1976-S JFK Half Dollar Has 40% Silver

Some time ago, I read the following by the First Commemorative Mint:

The only coin that continued to be made in silver was the Kennedy Half Dollar which was made in 40% silver for circulation only in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969. All later coins were made only in copper-nickel.

The 1970 JFK Half Dollar was also minted in 40% silver. Only the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar was minted in 90% silver.

Due to the above, I was surprised to learn the other day that the 1976-S Kennedy Half Dollar, celebrating the nation's bicentennial, was also minted in 40% silver.

According to Golden Eagle Coins:

1976 was the first year, since 1971, that the US Mint was authorized to use 40% silver in their coin again. The 1976-S Silver Kennedy Half Dollar is in brilliant uncirculated condition and contains 40% silver. 

After finding this out, I decided to order one from APMEX. These coins, which only came from the San Francisco Mint, are a bit rare due to its limited mint run of 11,000,000.

ACEF Director At The National Money Show

When I found that I had bought two Chinese counterfeit coins a few months ago, besides notifying the local sheriff, Facebook (where the ad for them appeared) and the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation, I worked with Doug Davis, director of the ACEF in providing documentation on the counterfeits and the people behind them

As things should turn out, Mr. Davis will be attending the National Money Show March 2-4 in Phoenix. I am also attending this show and am looking forward to meeting him in person.

From the ACEF website:

March 2-4, 2023 Doug Davis, Director of Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force will be attend the ANA 2023 National Money Show in Phoenix AZ. View $MILLIONS$ in rare coins and numismatic treasures. Buy, sell and trade with hundreds of coin dealers, attend lectures and presentations from noted numismatists, and find out what your old coins may be worth! Learn more!

 For more information, go here.

Hawaiian Tourists May Get Taxed $50

Above, a sunset from Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following should not come as any surprise since the state of Hawaii's government is dominated by Democrats.

As we all know, Democrats love to impose taxes on anything and everything.

From Time Out: 

Travel to Hawaii may soon increase in price for visitors. 

A proposed $50 tourist tax, or so-called green fee, aims to proactively protect Hawaii's much-visited natural spaces, such as beaches, and offset the negative effective of over-tourism.

“We saw so clearly the impacts of 10 million annual visitors on our islands that in addition to my proposal, there are several being discussed at the legislature. The bottom line is that we need to generate as much revenue as we can from travelers, to help mitigate those impacts," Hawaii Governor Josh Green told The Points Guy. Green promoted a "climate impact fee" during his campaign. 

The Hawaii Green Fee is currently passing through Hawaii's state legislature and is priced at $50  per nonresident over the age of 15, with the goal of generating between $400-500 million annually. Worldwide, protected destinations, including Galapagos National Park and Palau charge over $100 per visitor. 

To read more, go here. 

California Loses Half Million Residents In Two Years

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democrat Party in California should be named salespersons of the year for U-Haul.

The once "Golden State" lost 500,000 residents during the past two years. 

From Fox 11 Los Angeles

California's population fell by 500,000 people between April 2020 and July 2022 as residents fled the state in droves to find greener pastures.

Census data showed migration out of the state surpassed those coming into the state by more than 700,000 throughout the two-year period, according to the Los Angeles Times. California's major cities have been plagued with homelessness, crime and skyrocketing housing costs, causing many residents to flee to nearby states like Utah, Nevada and even Texas.

Despite the shrinkage, California remains the most populated U.S. state with some 38 million residents.

Californians who remain in the state are also likely to face frequent power outages and failures in the coming years as state leaders continue to push for renewable energy.

You can also add that people who are leaving are fed up with the radical left-wing politics of the Democrats who have a stranglehold on the state's government. It is a one-party state.

To read more, go here.

Balloonacy: Biden Declares War On Science Projects

If this is true, it appears that His Fraudulency Joe Biden has declared war against science projects of hobby clubs.

Besides that, it looks like the whole incident was not exactly cost-effective.

From Fox News:

Sen. Ted Cruz took to Twitter Thursday to criticize President Joe Biden for ordering an F-22 fighter jet to shoot down what may have been a hobby club’s science project off the coast of Alaska earlier last week.

Cruz, R-Texas, joked that Biden’s decision to authorize the $200 million fighter jet to use a $400,000 missile to shoot down what may have been a $12 balloon serves as a "powerful deterrence" to high school students interested in creating their own at-home science balloons.

The comment came after the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade’s (NIBBB), an Illinois-based hobbyist club, said their pico balloon that was floating off the west coast of Alaska went missing the same day a Lockheed Martin jet shot down an unidentified object matching its description.

What's next? Shooting down model rockets?

To read more, go here. 

Snow Shoveling Just In Time

Above, after today's shoveling. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the third time in two days, I had to do some snow-shoveling of the walkways.

After I shoveled the first time yesterday, more snow fell in the late afternoon/early evening. I had to shovel it before it turned to ice. I fell over a week ago by slipping on a thin layer of black ice between the house and the garage. I didn't want a repeat performance, so I shoveled it again.

Apparently, more snow fell and the walkways needed shoveling again. The snow is sticking, aided by a current 25° temperature.

I was expecting two deliveries today, so I shoveled the walkways again today. I apparently did so just in time as the packages were delivered within 45 minutes after I was done. 

Such is life out in the country during winter.

Investors Seeking A Safe-haven In Gold and Silver

Above, a 2023 American Silver Eagle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The current spot price or silver is at $21.53 toz, according to Monex Live Silver Spot Price.

This is actually good if one is buying. Bargains can be had since dealers base their prices on the current spot price plus their markups (profit, shipping & handling). Just shop around for the better deals, they're out there.

Investors are looking for a "safe haven" in gold and silver as a hedge against inflation. Since gold's spot price (per Monex) is $1,835.00 toz, silver as an alternative is much more affordable. 

MarketWatch (a Dow Jones company) has an article on this.

They begin with:

NORWALK, Conn. - Feb. 13, 2023 - PRLog -- Precious metals are a safe-haven investment when the stock market and other investments are in a down cycle. Many financial advisors recommend holding at least 10% of your retirement portfolio in a stable and trusted investment like precious metals.

Sovereign governments around the world issue coins minted from precious metals. These coins are primarily intended for investors of silver and gold bullion.

Holding precious metals as part of your portfolio acts as a stable hedge against a recession, or worse. Historically, gold and silver have held their buying power through previous recessions and periods of high inflation.

This year is the 37th year that the American Eagle coin series has been available from the US Mint. These coins have been minted annually since 1986.

The 2023 1 oz Gold American Eagle is the premier bullion coin from the US Mint and it has been minted for 37 years.

To read more, go here. 

Raquel Welch

Above, Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C. Hammer Films photo.

It seems like only yesterday (actually, on September 5) that Raquel Welch's 82nd birthday was celebrated on social media.

Then came the stunning news that she passed away yesterday of a "brief illness". I decided to hold off a day before posting this. 

As far as I can remember, I have seen three of her movies in theaters: One Million Years B.C. (1966), Fantastic Voyage (1966) and Myra Breckinridge (1970). I also saw her cameo in Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult (1994).

Above, Raquel and Duke in her first television special's TV Guide cover.

I may have seen her 1970 television special, Raquel. The photos of her with John Wayne from the special are very familiar.

According to Wikipedia:

In 2014, during an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor, Welch described herself as being on the conservative side, attributing it to her mother's Midwestern values. During the Vietnam War, Welch showed her support for the troops at United Service Organizations (USO) shows often appearing with Bob Hope.

That I definitely remember. 

It is sad to hear of her passing away, but her legacy in entertainment history is firmly secure. R.I.P.

Cold Today

The temperature right now (according to my Weather Channel app) is at 1° in Gallup.

Today's high is forecast to reach 29°. Brrr!

The Albuquerque bureau of the National Weather Service posted the following on Facebook:

Cold today.  Temps rebound late this week into next week.  Precip chances return early next week.  Breezy to windy conditions are expected Saturday thru Tuesday along and east of the central mountain chain, then a widespread strong wind event possible on Wednesday.

It looks like I'll be staying indoors today.