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Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias reopens after massive…
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureYosemite National Park’s most popular attraction finally reopened to the public June 14. The historic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias — home to more than 500 mature giant sequoias — had been closed since 2015 to undertake a landmark project to protect the grove and re-establish the area’s natural serenity. The $40 million renovation began in July 2015 to replace the grove’s paved trails with natural surfaces and to relocate parking lots and visitor services to improve access to the famous 209-foot-tall Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree.
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Cathedrals to consumption: The mall as public space
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsMalls have been around for centuries, from Trajan’s Market in ancient Rome through to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. But the mall in its massive, "out-of-town" reincarnation came into its own in the late 20th century, as cars allowed more of us the mobility to make the weekend pilgrimage to these new temples of the capitalist age. The U.S., with more mall space per person than any other country in the world, has been at the epicenter of this love affair.
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Guadalupe County, Texas, institutes bounty to address feral hog problem
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureFaced with a growing list of problems caused by feral hogs, commissioners in Guadalupe County recently voted to institute a hog bounty. When the program officially begins, the county northeast of San Antonio will pay a $5 fee for all hog tails turned in at designated check stations. Home to an estimated hog population north of 2,000, Guadalupe County commissioners were besieged with the same issues as government officials and wildlife biologists all over Texas in recent years.
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A cerebral misfire — Using an aftermarket part on my Porsche
Pablo Deferrari Transportation Technology & AutomotiveRipping through the gears of my Porsche 968 out of the Exit 14 tolls off the New Jersey Turnpike, I was about 15 miles from home when I caught a whiff of coolant. "That can’t be me…impossible; it’s the car up ahead," I said to myself. But my gut knew the inevitable was about to happen. The orange needle minding the temperature was at 7 o’clock then it slowly crept to second white bar at 9 o’clock, stayed there for a bit before sinking back to where it’d been.
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Identifying plants during your travels
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureTraveling the country gives you a unique chance to increase your knowledge in plant identification. The plants can include wildflowers, weeds, epiphytes, cactus, trees, and edible plants. Every location has a slightly different habitat, so there are constantly new plants to learn. The following are some methods to increase your knowledge of plants.
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Looking both ways at the significant dangers to pedestrians in wheelchairs
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Transportation Technology & AutomotiveA recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimated that close to 6,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. The report discusses factors contributing to the increasing numbers of fatal pedestrian injuries, including the legalization of marijuana and growth in the use of smartphones as contributors. Those pedestrians using wheelchairs suffer fatal injury when hit by a vehicle at a rate that is close to 40 percent greater than the general population. More than half of fatal injuries to wheelchair users occur in intersections.
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7 sensational 4th of July fireworks celebrations
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureFor as long as America has existed, the nation has celebrated the Fourth of July by staging grand fireworks shows in public settings and lighting smaller displays at home. Cities across the country compete for the honor of having the most spectacular Fourth of July fireworks. Choosing an outright winner is highly subjective and downright difficult — so we’ve selected seven cities where the rockets’ red glare is sure to infuse onlookers with a real sense of patriotic spirit.
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Is the term anti-aging out for good?
Elizabeth Donat RetailSome people in the beauty industry want "anti-aging" to go the way of the dodo. In light of Allure magazine announcing in last year's September issue that it would no longer publish the term anti-aging, it makes me wonder if this will become the new normal for the industry. The magazine stated that aging is a "celebration of growing into your own skin," so we shouldn't see it as a "battle" and something that needs a remedy. But does the term really stand for something negative or is it just a way to clearly state which skin care goals you're after?
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AR-15 ‘overpenetration’ only exists if you do this wrong
Mike Ox Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityToday, we’re going to talk about one of the biggest misconceptions that people have about the AR-15. To be fair, they get this misconception honestly. They’re repeated ad nauseam at gun ranges, in articles, blogs, forums, videos, and even on TV without proper context. To complicate matters even more, there’s an element of truth to it. What is this myth? "I think ARs are bad for home defense because of overpenetration. I don’t want to shoot my neighbors or kids in another part of the house."
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More big brands join the war on plastic
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe effort against single-use plastic straws has officially become more than a skirmish and is now an all-out war, as several more major brands have decided to do away with them in their businesses. SeaWorld Entertainment, in an effort to protect the environment, has removed all single-use straws and plastic bags from the company’s 12 theme parks. The Orlando-based company made the announcement June 8. SeaWorld, while leading in this effort, is not alone.
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