International Visitors Spent $19.5 Billion in the United States in December 2023

 Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that in December 2023:

International visitors spent $19.5 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States, an increase of more than 22% compared to December 2022 and the highest level of monthly spending since December 2019 (before the onset of reported COVID-19 cases). In fact, monthly U.S. travel and tourism exports are within $1.4 billion of their highwater mark set back in March 2018 when international visitors spent an appreciable $20.8 billion experiencing the United States.

Conversely, Americans spent $18.9 billion traveling abroad during December, yielding a balance of trade surplus of $544 million and the sixth consecutive month during which the United States enjoyed a balance of trade surplus for travel and tourism-related goods and services.

International visitors have spent more than $212.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date (January through December 2023), an increase of more than 28% when compared 2022; international visitors have injected, on average, more than $581 million a day into the U.S. economy during 2023.

U.S. Travel and tourism exports accounted for 22.4% of U.S. services exports during December 2023 and 7.5% of all U.S. exports, goods and services alike.

The Manster (1959)

 You might think that Japan is just good for Godzilla.  But more recently we have seen Ring, The Grudge, and the 2000 title Versus.

But also Audition and Ichi the Killer, a bit too hardcore violence for me.

But what about The Manster?  Now we are talking!  

A Cult-Classic from the director Kenneth Crane (Monster From Green Hell and When Hell Broke Loose).  This US/Japan work of art is in English!  Women, don't let your boozing, womanizing journalist husband hang out in the Land of the Rising Sun!

Watch it free here.

The Creeping Terror

 The Creeping Terror

This is the film to watch.  It will make your jaw drop in amazement.

For the backstory see this wikipedia link.

There is even a documentary about the film called "The Creep Behind the Camera" (aka Creep!) (2014).

Considered to be one of the worst films ever made (I thought Plan Nine From Outer Space was), this is why I have a 16mm print of it!

Starman

 Well, where I am the weather is nice and sunny.  But if you are inside due to crappy weather or some other reason, it is time to watch a movie.

Atomic Rulers

Not any movie but one described as "Earth has had too many atomic tests and the results from them has caused radiation to pollute outer space. The Emerald Planet is aware that the country of Magolia are creating nuclear weapons to unleash all over the world. If this happens, even the Emerald Planet will not be breathable. They send Starman to find the Magolians secret bases and to eliminate them before they try to take over the Earth.". Source.

How Will Recreation on Public Lands Be Different in 2050?

 How Will Recreation on Public Lands Be Different in 2050?

Read the summary here.

and the full report here.

Abstract:

This report provides a look at changes that could come to pass and impact recreation on public lands over the next 30 years. The data were over 700 horizon scan hits from our Forest Futures Horizon Scanning Project. Horizon scan hits are a useful early warning system. Horizon scan hits may be directly related to outdoor recreation (e.g., the decline of snow fall) or they may be indirectly related (e.g., the development of lab-grown meat). Because weak signals of change are as important as strong signals, a single scan hit is worthy of consideration, even if it stands alone. These horizon scan hits point to uncertainty and volatility in recreation activities on public lands. Some scan hits point to significant decline in traditional activities, while other scan hits point to increases. New activities are emerging, and there are many crosswinds in domains outside recreation that will impact delivery of recreation on public lands. Climate change is already implicated in recreation changes, from reduced snow fall, to human and animal migration, to reduced biodiversity. Other potential changes on the horizon include changing attitudes toward nature, a growing role for time in forests as a component of healthcare, electrification of many modes of travel, rising potential for augmented reality (AR) in outdoor recreation, the rise in passenger drones changing how people get to recreation sites, the potential for robots to assist with recreation management, and more. Therefore, there are many plausible futures for recreation on public lands. This makes planning more complicated, and the use of additional strategic foresight methods may help decision-makers think about the range of possible futures, and to plan for a preferrable future for outdoor recreation.

Westphal, Lynne M. 2022. The future of recreation on public lands: a horizon scan. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-208. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 106 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-208.

and

this one.

Abstract:

Horizon scanning is a method for detecting and interpreting the implications of emerging issues and other signals of change, both within and outside of an organization or field. Anticipating possible changes that may affect an organization is a first step toward strategic thinking, planning, and actions that can help prepare it for an uncertain future. Developing insight into emerging possible futures—or strategic foresight—can help decisionmakers respond proactively to seize opportunities and mitigate potential threats. Decisionmaking in forestry and other natural resource management fields has underutilized formal horizon scanning.

The USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station's Strategic Foresight Group recently worked with the University of Houston Foresight graduate program to design and implement a formal horizon scanning system for the agency, with the goal of increasing strategic foresight. The nine papers in this report summarize the early phases of this process and lessons learned. Among the topics are the development of a method to identify useful scanning sources pertinent to forest futures, ways to analyze scanning hits, and distinguishing between current and emerging issues for the Forest Service. Also discussed is the range of communication products generated to date by the project. The report contains the complete guide written for those volunteering to do the scanning. This collection will acquaint forest planners, managers, and policymakers with horizon scanning as an integral step in anticipating the consequences of potential change and making better decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

Hines, Andy; Bengston, David N.; Dockry, Michael J., comps. 2019. The Forest Futures Horizon Scanning project. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-187. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 81 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-P-187

Puppy Bowl XX

 Time to get your family and friends together to watch the Puppy Bowl.

Here is my rescue champ:

Sunday, February 11 at 2P ET/11A PT on Animal Planet.

See the other players here.

Hurricanes

 Hurricanes are more of a late summer and fall thing, but even for us in the Midwest, they can reek havoc with heavy rains and flooding.

For the best information for the States, USE the National Hurricane Center (noaa.gov).  

No fluff, advertising or opinions, just facts.

In 2022, I shot this video of the creek near my house in Massachusetts. Enjoy.

oh yeah, get your free tracking chart from NOAA.