View Obscura

 From the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico Dear Residents and Visitors, As we navigate the aftermath of the wildfires and the ongoing risk of flash flooding, our hearts are with each and every one of you. The strength and spirit of our community make Ruidoso an extraordinary place, and we want to ensure you feel safe, informed, and uplifted during these times.

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey Have you ever been leisurely driving down a remote highway when all of a sudden you spot something so unusual that you immediately stop and make a U-turn to try and figure out exactly what you thought you saw?

 From Tennessee Vacations Slide into Tennessee. Warmer months in Tennessee mean fun in the sun — and water — at outdoor water parks, splash pads and wave pools. Plus, indoor water parks ensure year-round fun! Make time for a splash-filled adventure. Pack up the kids and make a splash at the many water-based amusement parks across Tennessee. Outdoor water parks, splash pads and wave pools are just waiting for you to make a splash. And, with the indoor water parks, you can make sure you get your pool time fix year-round. Make some room on your travel schedule to take a dip and have some fun at Tennessee’s water parks.

Photo By Ken Hulsey "Lighten Your Burdens: Practical Steps for Finding Rest in God" In this inspiring sermon, learn how to lighten your burdens through practical steps and spiritual insights. Discover the importance of rest and renewal, and how embracing God's teachings can radically change your life. Pastor James W. Greer breaks down the four key words that can transform your approach to handling life's challenges: Come, Rest, Learn, and Light. Join us as we explore how to find true rest in God and make your burdens easier to bear. Don't miss next week's sermon on the deeper meaning of the Sabbath and its blessings!

From DC Comics   It’s not easy to impose structure on a circus kid who’s never had any… DC Comics today announced a new 12-issue comic book series, Batman and Robin: Year One, by storytellers Mark Waid and Chris Samnee. The adventures kick off on Wednesday, October 16, when the first issue of the new series hits shelves at participating local comic book shops! In Batman and Robin: Year One, while Bruce Wayne adjusts to the realities of adopting orphan Dick Grayson, a mysterious new crime boss called the General has come to Gotham to claim the city by disrupting and destroying its other mobs. But what is his connection to Two-Face? Batman and his new sidekick, Robin, are out for answers, but it’ll take everything they have to navigate both sides of their relationship as father and son and dynamic duo, with Dick Grayson’s present and future hanging in the balance! “While Batman and Robin are the stars of this tale and get most of the panel time, at its heart, this isn’t a Batman/Robi...

By Ken Hulsey It looks like Universal Studios is eyeing a series of Monsterverse films of their own. Reports are surfacing that the studio is set to hire veteran horror director James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring and Insidious) to direct a remake of the 1954 film Creature From the Black Lagoon that is reportedly being written by Wil Beal (Aquaman). It is also being reported that remakes of The Invisible Man and Wolfman are also in the works. Prior to being linked with the Creature, Wan was believed to be working on a Call Of Cthulhu   film. It now seems that the Cthulhu project will be put on hold. About a decade or so ago there were numerous Creature remakes that entered some form of production before being scrapped. In 2009 Vincent Guastini was hired by Universal to redesign the monster ( his work is featured in the photo left) for a proposed remake that was to be directed by Carl Erik Rinsch (47 Ronin), which   never happened.  Likewise, a year later, Halcyon...

 From The Los Angeles Rams By Stu Jackson Rams head coach Sean McVay on Tuesday said the team worked out a contract adjustment with Matthew Stafford , and that the quarterback is at training camp. McVay declined to go into specifics of the contract and contract discussions, other than confirming it wasn't an extension. "There was a lot of great dialogue that existed between myself and Matthew, between (Stafford's agent) Jimmy Sexton, (Rams Vice President of Football & Business Administration) Tony Pastoors, (Rams President) Kevin (Demoff), (General Manager) Les (Snead), and ultimately it was all geared towards finding a solution that really suits our team, but also accommodates some of the things that represent Matthew's worth for us," McVay said. "And we feel like we were able to do that. That was always the goal in mind, and that's where we're at and we're excited about it."

 From Warner Bros This is F1. Starring Brad Pitt. In theaters Summer 2025.  From Apple Original Films, “F1” stars Brad Pitt as a former driver who returns to Formula 1, alongside Damson Idris as his teammate at APXGP, a fictional team on the grid. The feature is being shot during actual Grand Prix weekends as the team competes against the titans of the sport.

From Dynamite Entertainment The scintillating siren of the spaceways is back, as Barbarella saunters her way into new comic book adventures this October from a talented creative pairing of writer Blake Northcott and artist Anna Morozova. Announced for San Diego Comic-Con, this series will precede an upcoming blockbuster film in development. The series finds Barbs fresh off from saving the universe (again), and cherishing a little rest and relaxation with her unique alien pet companion Vix. This is Barbarella after all though, and she's about to discover that not all pleasure planets are created equal. In fact, some are downright unreal! Meanwhile, all the way across the galaxy, there is something off about Earth's oldest and most venerable colony. Altogether, Barbarella's uniquely well-rounded skills will be in dire need across the cosmos, and she's sure to run into all manner of unscrupulous figures along the way!

Exploring New Mexico’s expansive outdoors may seem like a daunting task. Let us guide you to some great places where you can find your own adventure! Taos Up and Over Trail Run Challenge the steep and cragged landscape at Taos Ski Valley in this two-race series. Grab yourself a finishers medal crafted from fallen timber, or a double-trouble medal if you’re up for both races! A reusable HydraPak SpeedCup is provided to all runners as well!

Photo by Ken Hulsey Focused Faith vs. Circumstantial Faith What kind of faith do you really have? Is it focused faith or circumstantial faith? Circumstances: Circumstantial faith is faith that goes up or down, depending on my current set of circumstances. It’s believing in God as long as I am happy with every aspect of my life — everything going the way I want it to go. This type of faith is not at all faith in God — in one day, out the next, depending on how I feel God is acting and what He’s doing for me.

 This past Friday our family decided to head west into Texas and revisit the town of Lufkin . On our trip there last year we had lunch at Ray's Drive In, visited the Naranjo Museum of Natural History, and popped into the History Center in nearby Diboll. This time around we brought our granddaughter along to share in the fun. The town of Lufkin has many family friendly locations to enjoy, so many that we actually didn't get to them all in one day, so a return visit will have to be made in the near future.

 I was surprised to learn that the cheeseburger was first created a hundred years ago in a family restaurant in Pasadena, California. Southern California has a long burger history with many of the nations leading fast food chains like McDonald's, In-N-Out, Jack in the Box, Fatburger, and Carl's Junior originating there. I stumbled across this great article about how the cheeseburger got it's Pasadena roots:

 From  www.visitutah.com A Guided Adventure in Utah’s National Parks Thinking of hiring a guide? Leaving the planning to someone else and learning more about backpacking are only two of the perks that writer Melissa Fields realized when she let a pro lead the way through Capitol Reef National Park. “The trip redefined my preconceived notions of what going solo on a guided group trip means: a rare chance to move through a landscape I’d probably not get to on my own while making precious new connections along the way.” Discover how some of Utah’s guides are redefining guide culture.

 There is a photo that popped up on Facebook recently that allegedly shows a young Bigfoot apparently stalking a pair of deer. Despite the face that the image looks like a rather obvious hoax, the image has been shared on social media hundreds of times and been featured on numerous news sites ( ... um, like this one). I can't help but believe that the photographer dressed there kid up in a furry costume and staged the shot. That being said, how they managed to get the deer in the shot is a mystery.

 From  https://travelwyoming.com/ Sometimes the call of the wild is the only notification you need. Leave screen time behind and get an up close glimpse at the natural wonders you’ve got to see to believe. Viewing wildlife in Wyoming provides an exciting and diverse experience for visitors. Count how many of our more than 100 mammal species and 400 bird species you can spot.

 Last week my travels brought me to the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Over the past few years I have been through St. Francisville a handful of times, and I have say that the town is one of my favorite locations here in Louisiana. The town is quiet, charming, and filled with history. From the nearby John James Audubon Bridge . Audubon State Historic Site, St. Francisville Historic District, to the preserved Illinois Central Railroad Caboose the town provides the visitor the perfect place to spend a day just exploring. Located just over 30 minutes north of the State Capitol of Baton Rouge , St. Francisville is easy to get to and should be considered a must see location for anyone visiting the region.

 I have actually been holding on to this collection of rare production drawings and behind the scenes images from the original King Kong (1933) for some times. They were sent to me by a fan of my old Monster Island News blog. I honestly don't know why I didn't share them earlier, it was just laziness I suppose. I think that both monster movie fans and classic movie fans will get a real kick out seeing these.

 From Stern Pinball Press Release Today, in honor of the 70th Anniversary of Godzilla, renowned gaming and entertainment company, Stern Pinball, Inc., has announced some exciting updates for fans of the iconic King of the Monsters, including a new Godzilla 70th Anniversary Premium Edition pinball machine and content enhancements across all machines.

 Earlier this week I decided to do a search on the famous Loch Ness Monster in hopes of finding something fun to feature at View Obscura. I was surprised to find that there has been a renewed interest in the hunt for the creatures existence that has produced a bevy of new evidence that points to the possibility that something may indeed live in the lake.

 This past weekend Terri and I decided to brave the heat and humidity and spend an afternoon touring the Acadian Village (Museum) in Lafayette. I have to admit that this has been a location that I have wanted to see for some time now. When Terri woke up Saturday morning and said that she wanted to go explore the location I was more than happy to oblige her.

 From visitalbuquerque.org ABQ Savings Pass - Find Deals This Summer Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of hot deals on places to explore in Albuquerque. Download the free Albuquerque Savings Pass to save money on 20 attractions, restaurants and stores, with more being added all the time! Score great deals by showing your phone at checkout or typing a code into a website. Find Some Great Deals

Arizona Resorts With the Best Summer Pools Summertime in Arizona means big pools with even bigger water features. Make a splash at these stylish and family-favorite resorts. Whether you're seeking boisterous sports pools for splashy fun and games, man-made rivers for inner tubing with friends or even relaxation on your own private island, you’ll find them in Arizona. Keep cool at these resorts, where activities range from casual poolside games to challenging wave-pool surfing.

I urge everyone to donate to the recovery efforts in Ruidoso, New Mexico. As many of you know the town, and surrounding area, were recently devastated by wildfires. There are many people who were displaced and lost their homes. There is real need here and I hope that we all rise up to meet that need. - Ken Donations: If you wish to support the affected communities in the Ruidoso area, you can donate to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County. - DONATE HERE From the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico Ruidoso continues its recovery following the South Fork and Salt Fires and recent flooding. Ruidoso Tourism remains steadfast in its commitment to safety and community resilience while looking ahead to future visitor experiences.

 News broke today that Star Trek TNG actor Jonathan Frakes is set to direct a new Sci Fi noir series based on a series of books written by Arthur C, Clark called Venus Prime. I have thought that many of the new science fiction shows have been rather dull lately, but this one sounds very interesting.

 From travelwyoming.com From Devils Tower to Grand Teton, check out the national parks and landmarks that make the Wyoming wilderness worth wandering. Wyoming’s National Parks and national monuments call visitors to the Cowboy State. Colorful pools, jagged peaks, otherworldly rock formations, and fossil-rich ecosystems remain untouched within state borders.