Yellowstone National Park Around the Web

I have been lucky to live close to Yellowstone National Park for the last few years. I have visited the park a few times and driven through it on the way to Ennis, Montana or Cody, Wyoming a few times too. 

Of course I have tagged along on trips with grandkids to Old Faithful. A few minutes of walking along the boardwalks in that area let you see pools like the one below. Please if you ever go do stay on the walkways. Stepping off in this area can be dangerous or even deadly. Plan on having some patience too since around Old Faithful and the boardwalks are some of the biggest crowds in the park.

Another amazing site and certainly worth exploring is the Old Faithful Inn. There is a gift shop inside the lodge. Other things you may see in the lobby including the stunning 3 story stone chimney, are an author signing books or an artist working on their latest painting. If you want to stay at the lodge plan well ahead and know that the rooms do not have televisions or radios. You wouldn't be coming to the park to have that kind of noise anyway, right?

I told in a previous post about my pleasure at finding great podcasts to fill up my days with pleasant background sounds that amuse, entertain and inform me. Yellowstone has its own podcast. The podcast is named Telemetry and the web site for it includes this introduction.

"Telemetry" refers to the wireless transmission of information, often via radio waves, from one location to another. Our public radio-style audio series helps transmit some of Yellowstone's scientific investigations to listeners, wherever they are. Go on a sound safari in the world's first national park for surprising stories and in-depth reporting that highlight science and issues in the region.

 There are six episodes so far and I have thoroughly enjoyed every one. The first podcast episode "To Catch a Loon" is probably one of my favorites. I used to daydream about being a biologist for the park service in my youth and although I like my life it is a regret that I didn't follow through and do that kind of work.

You can subscribe to Telemetry with your favorite podcast app. Other places to get Yellowstone information are at the park's web site or Instagram or Twitter or YouTube or even a Flickr account where one of the most impressive pictures in the stream right now is this one.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Instagram Irritations

A bit of a rant today. 

The story starts with Facebook and why I left it about 2 years ago now. Through no fault of Facebook my feed was out of control. I had family members (extended ones mostly) that drove me nuts with all kinds of political and inspirational crap that was liked, reposted and shared 24/7. You can't just unfollow family so I quit using Facebook. I just wanted to know how everyone was doing and be done with it. 

Along came instagram, used on a phone, you had to take a picture and there was no viral reposting of stupid stuff. I could handle that. So I joined and followed a select group of crafty, vintage and home town business people that I had crossed paths with over the years one way or another. I also added family members so I would know their latest real news.

Well wouldn't you know it, Facebook has found a way to mess Instagram up. My feed is now being interrupted with sponsored and recommended posts and people to follow. I get the ads, the service is free and needs to be monetized somehow but if I have an interest in something or someone else I will search for it myself, thank you very much. Come on Facebook/Instagram quit thinking you know me and what I want.