View Obscura

Over the past couple of months I have been taking pictures of trains all over our great state from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. I intended to post a lot of these before now, but unfortunately I got busy with other things. Before the collection grew too large I decided to go on ahead and share them. I hope you enjoy these images of trains all across the Pelican State!  

 From the Long Branch Leisure Guide Long Branch, New Jersey is a popular destination for tourists seeking a beach getaway. With its beautiful beaches and vibrant boardwalk, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this coastal town. Long Branch, New Jersey: Reinventing a Resort Paperback Book - $21.99 @ Amazon.com - Order Here The focal point of activity is Pier Village, an upscale, trendy community along the beach front that encompasses the boardwalk, boutique shops, restaurants, and multistory luxury residences overlooking the ocean. During weekends and evenings, and especially during the summer, the large variety of outstanding restaurants and lively nightlife attracts a crowd of young professionals. During its heyday in the 19th century, it was a resort town that for the "Who's Who" of society. it was a place where some of the top theatrical performers gathered to entertain well healed visitors. It was also a destination for presidents of the United States and ...

 Just before this years draft I noted that the Los Angeles Rams needed a star quality running back for Sean McVay's to truly work. It was my observation that during the early years of McVay's tenure with the team he relied heavily on Todd Gurley to balance out his offense. Defenses couldn't just simply focus on the passing game with the threat of such a running attack. Over the past few seasons, after Gurley suffered a career ending knee injury, the Rams offense had become predictable as McVay had become way too pass happy. The team tried in vein to find late round substitutes and trade candidates to replace Gurley's production on the ground. I thought that the team needed to invest yet another draft pick to acquire the type of game changing rusher. Little did I know that the player I was talking about was already on the roster. This season Kyren Williams has shown that the Rams got a steal when they selected him in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL draft. On Sunday in Ariz...

 By Jay Foley for the Taos News While some people may not recognize New Mexico as a skiing or winter destination, those that have discovered it typically fall in love with it — and many have been enjoying the area for generations. Steeped in culture, history and diversity, there are four ski areas less than an hour from Taos, and each is unique. Taos New Mexico 70s 80s Retro Style Vintage Distressed Gift T-Shirt - $17.99 @ Amazon.com - Order Here If you’re a skier looking for the steep and narrow, Taos Ski Valley is one of the best in the country for extreme terrain. Sipapu offers a friendly, all-inclusive old-school ski vibe. Located in a historic Western town, Red River is a well-run ski area with a fun layout and great intermediate runs that attracts return visitors from around the Southwest. Angel Fire resort has some of the nicest long cruisers anywhere. It is remote, yet easy to get to, and offers many options. Northern New Mexico also has plenty of backcountry skiing, snowsh...

Be Thankful I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) — Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. We are commanded to be thankful. I believe it is something we need to learn. Big Problems, Bigger God: Whatever You Need for Whatever You Face Paperback by Pastor Steve Smothermon - $21.99 @ Amazon.com - Order Here Entitlement vs thankfulness: Billy Graham said, “Thanksgiving — the giving of thanks — to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ.” The opposite of thankfulness is entitlement. Entitlement is a belief that we have a right to something we didn’t earn. Somehow, we deserve what everyone else has, regardless of whether we worked for it or earned it; somehow, we have a right to it. This is known as covetousness, which is a violation of the 10th commandment. Unthankfulness: Francis Schaeffer said, “The beginning of men’s rebellion against God was, ...

 Scientists have been talking about bringing back the Mammoth for over a decade now but it seems that a Texas company has now put the cloning of extinct species into high gear. Of course we have seen how this movie ends ... "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should..." "If the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists" - Dr. Ian Malcom From the Daily Star: Scientists are attempting to recreate the extinct beasts by combining genetic material from the Arctic permafrost with DNA from Asian elephants. Boffins at the biotech company Colossal Biosciences are hoping that the first mammoth calf could be born by 2028. The firm's website states: "Bringing back the woolly mammoth back means bringing back a better Earth." The experts believe that the newly-created animal will be a cold-resistant elephant that has all the biological features of a woolly mammo...

 Last October I visited the site of the Brookhill Ferry shipwreck site on the banks of the Mississippi River just off downtown Baton Rouge . At the time the water level of the river was at a all-time low and the site of the wreckage had been exposed for the first time in many years. The site drew a lot of visitors wanting get a look and unfortunately steal pieces of the old ship as souvenirs. Eventually the water level rose and the wreckage disappeared back into the murky Mississippi. Historic Photos of Steamboats on the Mississippi Hardcover - $19.99 @ Amazon.com - Order Here Yesterday I decided to revisit the site when I learned that the river had subsided enough to expose the shipwreck once again. What I discovered on my return was rather depressing to say the least. What remains of the Brookhill Ferry is now filled with thick mud and is quickly being consumed by vegetation. That of course would seem to be a natural progression of the state of the site due to its close proximity...