A continuation of my pictures from Mesa Verde National Park, taken last fall.
These are some shots I took in Mesa Verde National Park late last fall. Yes, I know, I'm really behind! If you're not familiar with Mesa Verde, it's the site of a large number of pre-Columbian cliff dwellings.
Here are some shots recently taken at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Here are some photos I've been holding onto since last year. These were taken at the Carson National Forest in New New Mexico.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a really neat place, not too far from Denver, where an outdoor amphitheater has been built right into a natural rock bowl. A lot of famous (and infamous) musicians have played there over the years. I mainly just went because my GPS sent me there, but I got some good pictures.
People jogging up and down the stairs of the amphitheater. Not only that, but this freak was jumping up the giant steps between the steps. You belong in an institution.
Views of the amphitheater itself.
The horizon from the top of the amphitheater.
The big rock my GPS had directed me up here to see. Shiprock. No, not, that shiprock. I'm finding that any large rock formation even vaguely shaped like a ship is called shiprock. These are on the right side of the top of the amphitheater while looking down at the stage.
Creation Rock is on the left side while looking down.
A statue of a CCC worker. The amphitheater itself has been around longer than that, but the CCC did a lot of work on the place during the depression. It makes you wonder - how many dollars in tourist money have been brought into the surrounding communities by the work done by the CCC here?
My trusty, fun, and cool new companion. I love this thing. I can't believe I lived so long without one.
Castle Rock. Oddly enough, not any of these castle rocks. I think the view on the left is better. When I saw this rock formation, I couldn't help but think, "This means something!" And it made me want to eat mashed potatoes. Odd.
I am in Fort Collins, Colorado, in a mostly empty house, while Strix is back in New Mexico supervising the movers loading everything into a big o' truck. They'll be here in two days with the rest of our stuff.
I have now lived as an adult in four different states, and I can honestly say that nowhere I have ever lived before now has even come close to being as cool as Fort Collins. This city rocks! It's educated, it's green (as in eco-friendly), it's green (as in having lots of trees), it's got every amenity you could ever want. It's close enough to Denver to have big city amenities nearby, and it's close enough to the mountains to get out and enjoy that whenever we want. I have never felt more at home anyplace than I feel here in a city I have just moved to.
Check out the Fort Collins photo gallery at the city's website. It doesn't even begin to do the place justice.
Did I mention I like it here?
The December 2008 issue of Scientific American had a special on bats, including profiles of some of the extremes that can be found in bat species. One species, the anoura fistulata, for instance, has a tongue that is 1.5 times the length of the rest of its body.
Some fairly obvious advantages come to mind, other than being able to retrieve nectar from really long test tubes.
I'm 5'9". There would be benefits to having an eight and a half foot long tongue.
1. You don't have to get up off the couch to get the remote control for the TV.
2. You don't really need a remote control for the TV.
3. You can finally get that last bit of ice cream at the bottom of the sundae.
4. You can smooth your eyebrows without using your hands.
5. When you give someone a raspberry, you give them the whole crop.
6. Practical jokes: "You just tapped me on the shoulder." "No I didn't." "Dude, he really didn't. He was standing there the whole time."
7. Getting that last piece of pizza before someone else does is pretty much a given.
Of course, there are some obvious questions that must be asked, as well.
1. If you have a seizure and swallow your tongue, do you explode?
2. How strong is this really long tongue? I mean, can you lift weights with it? If so, that drastically increases its usefulness.
3. Is the whole thing covered with tastebuds? If so, does that amplify the flavor of everything you're eating?
4. Would I have to change my last name to Fistulata? 'Cause, I really don't want to.
What other benefits and drawbacks can you think of?
I have no words for this except "Wow!"
What an outstanding movie! And to all those who don't like the fact that the script makes use of an alternate timeline in the Trek Universe, get over it. It's a time-honored sci-fi convention.
The casting could not have been more perfect for any of the characters. The sets were updated using modern special effects while still paying homage to the original designs. I can't imagine a better rendition of this story, and I sincerely hope they consider making more movies with this cast.
Recent Comments
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Althea Romeo-Mark said:
One of the pictures looks like an archeological site. There must be a lot of natural and human history there.... read more
on Yet More Mesa Verde Pics -
Althea Romeo-Mark said:
This view is really fantastic. Hope I will be able to visit this area one day and take in its... read more
on Mesa Verde National Park -
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That's Mesa Verde National Park's claim to fame. It has the largest ancient cliff dwellings in North America. The population... read more
on Yet More Mesa Verde Pics