View Obscura

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey My work has taken me across our state, and I have encountered dozens of abandoned locations. Louisiana is dotted with such sites where prosperity has given way to poverty and then abandonment. This is a testament to what once was. The reasons for this widespread phenomenon range from declining economic opportunities to the development of highways that bypass small towns and rural areas.

 Written By Ken Hulsey  Directed by Nathan Juran, "Twenty Million Miles to Earth" was written by Charlotte Knight and Christopher Knopf. The film's cast included William Hopper as Col. Robert Calder, Joan Taylor as Marisa Leonardo, Frank Puglia as Dr. Leonardo, John Zaremba as Dr. Judson Uhl, Thomas Browne Henry as Maj. Gen. A.D. McIntosh, Tito Vuolo as Police Commissioner Charra, Jan Arvan as Contino, Arthur Space as Dr. Sharman, and Bart Braverman as Pepe.

 By Ken Hulsey Prince of Space was originally a Japanese children's television series that was later edited into a feature film. The film adaptation suffers greatly from this choppily edited format. While the acting, special effects, and story were intended for a children's TV audience, the production values fall far short of other Japanese sci-fi films from the same era, most notably The Mysterians.

By Ken Hulsey At the end of each year, I sit down and compose a list of my favorite places visited during that time. This year, I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of just recounting our travels, I'm featuring locations that hold a special place in our hearts - my hometown of Whittier, California, Terri's hometown of Cleburne, Texas, and the cities we've lived in like Vernon, Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I'm also including two towns we both fell in love with - Lufkin, Texas and Natchez, Mississippi. Of course, there are beloved spots right here in Louisiana too. And I've added a few bucket list destinations we hope to check off in 2025.

By Ken Hulsey It's hard to believe that 2024 has already come and gone. It feels like just yesterday that I was compiling my list of the most-played tracks from the previous year. 2024 was a great year for new music, and my selection of ten songs comes from some of my favorite artists, including Foster the People, Mayer Hawthorne, and The Bamboos. Surprisingly, there are also a couple of brand new hits from 80s icons Tears for Fears and Flock of Seagulls. It's an interesting and eclectic collection, to say the least. I want to kick things off with a live performance by Mayer Hawthorne.

 Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey The winter before our family moved to Louisiana, a snowstorm swept through southern California on Christmas Eve, blanketing the local mountains in several inches of the white stuff. The next day, we decided to take a short drive from our home in Victorville to the picturesque mountain town of Wrightwood to enjoy a rare white Christmas.

 A Christmas Story, a 1983 American Christmas comedy film, is based on the short stories and semi-autobiographical anecdotes of author and raconteur Jean Shepherd. The film is adapted from Shepherd's book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, with some elements derived from his story "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories." Directed by Bob Clark, the film has since become a beloved holiday classic in the United States.

 By Ken Hulsey This morning, I revisited cherished photographs from a trip Terri and I took to Big Bear Lake. On that day, we savored a picnic lunch beside the serene waters and spent time exploring the surrounding trails. As you know, I rarely venture forth without my trusty camera, and that day was no exception – I captured several dozen images. One particular shot has always resonated with me, featuring a tree-lined path that resembles a tunnel, with light shining at the end. The scene struck me as profoundly spiritual, prompting me to search for a Bible verse that captured its essence. This is the passage the Lord led me to:

The images come from the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page , but unfortunately I can't provide photo credit. They show Ann-Margret performing as "Ann Margrock" on the animated sitcom The Flintstones. The show aired on ABC-TV for 6 seasons from 1960 to 1966. The photos capture Ann recording voice-overs with Alan Reed (the voice of Fred) and Jean Vander Pyl (the voice of Wilma) at the Hanna-Barbera studios in Los Angeles in 1963.

 Story and Photos By Ken Hulsey A month ago, my travels took me through McComb, Mississippi, where I had the opportunity to view several pieces of vintage Illinois Central Railroad equipment. This included a 4-8-2 steam locomotive, #2542 , and the consist of railcars behind it. If you read my piece from last month, you'll recall that I spotted an old concrete coaling tower in the distance and vowed to explore it on my next visit. Well, on Monday, I got my chance to do just that. During my research on McComb's rich railroad history, I had also viewed an aerial view of the site and discovered the locations of the old roundhouse and car shops that had once served as the railroad's regional headquarters for many decades, before the line was acquired by the Canadian National Railroad. I was able to find these locations, now overgrown with brush.

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey Back in November, I had the chance to revisit one of my favorite spots in Louisiana - Capitol City Park in Baton Rouge. I used to spend many a lunch break strolling the peaceful grounds when I worked in the city for several years. The park's quiet, serene atmosphere provided a welcome escape from the hectic pace of the office.

 By Ken Hulsey In 2021, I experienced a harrowing incident on my drive home from work. While navigating the highway in heavy rain, I hydroplaned and lost control of my car. However, I can say without hesitation that Jesus protected me through the entire ordeal. In the days that followed, many people remarked on how 'lucky' I was to have emerged unharmed. But I am here to profess that it was not mere luck - it was divine intervention.

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaiian time, a Japanese dive bomber emblazoned with the red symbol of the Rising Sun appeared from the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes then descended on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, launching a ferocious surprise attack. This devastating assault struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet, irrevocably drawing the United States into World War II.

From the Anaheim Ducks The Ducks have acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba from the New York Rangers for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick. New York will receive the later of Anaheim’s own fourth-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft or the conditional fourth-round pick acquired by Anaheim from Detroit in the Robby Fabbri trade July 3, 2024 (the earlier of Detroit’s own 2025 fourth-round pick or Boston’s fourth-round pick in 2025 acquired by Detroit).

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to make a brief stop in one of Terri's and my favorite towns - Lufkin, Texas. With enough time for a stroll downtown, I admired how the area had been decorated for Christmas. The lamp posts were wrapped in red tinsel, and strings of lights hung over the streets. Every storefront and restaurant window was festively adorned for the holidays. It was an enjoyable stroll, and I took the time to appreciate all the holiday flair.

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 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey Yesterday, I took advantage of a free afternoon to explore the grounds of the Southern Forrest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf, Louisiana. The museum is located on the site of the former Long Leaf Sawmill Complex, which was once one of hundreds of mill complexes in the region. While the mill itself is fascinating to explore, on this rainy day I decided to spend my time walking around the old facilities of the Red River and Gulf Railroad.

 Story and Photos By Ken Hulsey Over the past couple of years, I've reviewed various pizza, burger, and Mexican food restaurants, both fancy and fast-food. Today, I'm excited to rave about one of the coolest food establishments I've ever stepped into: Cajun Saucer Pizza. This joint boasts some of the most eclectic decor this side of a filling station on the intergalactic space route from Jupiter to Magrathea . While I do intend to discuss the food, I'll actually spend the bulk of this piece talking about the wall coverings, tiki gods, and - most notably - the lighting fixtures. If there was ever a pizza palace that looked like it was decorated by yours truly, it would be Cajun Saucer.

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 Written By Ken Hulsey Most people are familiar with the renowned spiritual poem "Footprints" or its alternative title "Footprints in the Sand."