Puppy Bowl 2026

 If not watching the Olympics, try the Puppy Bowl today.

Puppy Bowl 2026 | Discovery

Our Puppy is Bubba-Doo!

Carbondale, IL Presentation on the Appalachian Trail

 Sierra Club Presentation

Thursday, February 12, 2026, 7pm

 

Presenter: Robert Bristow, SIU Graduate, Professor Emeritus Westfield State University, and former Shawnee Group Sierra Club Chair

Presentation: Hiking the Appalachian Trail BC (before cell phones)

In 1975, a young enthusiastic hiker completed his dream to hike the Appalachian Trail.  He was the 282nd hiker to complete the 2,048 mile trail.  Fifty years later, in his talk for us, Rob Bristow, that enthusiastic hiker, will share the story of his trip and draw on the 100-year history of the world-famous AT.  We will also get to see some of the archived photographs and maps that illustrate the challenges early hikers faced in those days before cell phones and computers. His recently published book, The Real Appalachian Trail, BC, supports the Appalachian Trail Museum and will be available.

NOTE: Start time at 7 PM!

Location: 217 East Main, Carbondale, IL. Entrance is in the alley behind Consume, Buckwater Brew Works and Holt Tire, through the blue door. The front door is locked! Ample parking is accessible from the alley and from Monroe Street (between Washington and Marion).

 

Events | Sierra Club

or here

Another Month of Decline of International Visitors to US

 Another Month of Decline of International Visitors to US.

According to International Travel Receipts and Payments Program, we see another month decline in visitors coming to the US.

See the facts here.

For previous years, for example, see the role of Amusement Parks to International Tourism.  Think Orlando in Florida.

KFVS12 TV Interview from 21 January 2026

 KFVS12 TV Interview from 21 January 2026. 

https://www.kfvs12.com/2026/01/21/afternoon-book-club-real-appalachian-trail-bc/

Event now set for February First, 2pm at Confluence Books due to bad weather prediction.

Real Appalachian Trail, BC, Book Reading and Signing in Carbondale, IL

The Real Appalachian Trail, BC, Book Reading and Signing in Carbondale, IL

Sunday 25 January 2026 at 2 pm at

Confluence Books

Confluence Books

705 W Main St. Ste 100

Carbondale, IL 62901

USA

In 1975 a young enthusiastic hiker completed his dream to hike the Appalachian Trail.  He was the 282nd hiker to complete the 2,048 mile trail.  Fifty years later he brings the reader the story of his trip, along with the 100 year history of the world famous AT.  Archived photographs and maps illustrate the challenges early hikers faced in those days before cell phones and computers. 

His book, The Real Appalachian Trail, BC supports the Appalachian Trail Museum and will be available to purchase.

Can't wait?  Pick up your copy from Real Appalachian Trail BC*, The by Robert S Bristow | Confluence Books

or here The Real Appalachian Trail BC*

Come to Confluence Books

Some local press.

RIP Bob Weir

 Bob Weir, Guitarist and Founding Member of the Grateful Dead, Dies at 78. (1947-2026.

This shot was taken during my first Dead Concert.  I also developed the film!

Listen to this show here.

Incoming tourism to the States continues to drop

 

As expected:

October 2025 Total International Travel Volume to and from the United States

In October 2025, international visitor arrivals to the United States totaled 5,846,506, a decrease of 5.7 percent compared to October 2024 Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that in October 2025: International Arrivals to the United States Total non-U.S. resident international visitor volume to the United States of 5,846,506 decreased 5.7% compared to October 2024 and represents 87.4% of the pre-COVID total visitor volume reported for October 2019. Overseas visitor volume to the United States of 3,055,342 decreased 3.1% from October 2024. The largest number of international visitor arrivals was from Mexico (1,569,052), Canada (1,222,112), the United Kingdom (426,538), Germany (192,236), and South Korea (172,459). Combined, these top 5 source markets accounted for 61.3% of total international arrivals. The top 5 overseas tourism arrivals for October were the United Kingdom (371,093), Germany (163,294), South Korea (155,147), France (147,404), and Brazil (145,331). The top 5 overseas business arrivals for October were the United Kingdom (54,093), India (42,741), Japan (31,339), Germany (28,237), and China (19,398). The top 5 overseas student arrivals for October were China (7,466), India (5,577), South Korea (2,052), Brazil (1,355), and the United Kingdom (1,352).