By Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse

As fall arrives within the United States, many foliage watchers eagerly await Mother Nature's annual display of splendor—that’s, when the leaves turn sensible yellows, oranges, and reds. But understanding exactly where and when this phenomenon reaches its peak brilliance in numerous parts of the country requires greater than just guesswork.

National parks are at all times a superb place to see the colourful transformation of trees, because where higher to watch the changing seasons than in places where the forests are preserved and guarded? However, some tree species have greater potential for picturesque coloration than others, and a few parks offer higher access to areas where the kaleidoscopic effect may be seen.

That's why onX, which offers digital maps and other resources for outdoor enthusiasts through a series of apps, recently analyzed its data to find out which national parks are more likely to have essentially the most colourful fall foliage this yr.

According to Frommer's, the corporate applied its Hunt app's “deciduous tree layer” filter to discover parks with the best density of trees known for his or her sensible fall colours, including oaks, maples, hickories and birches. By combining this data with trail length information, analysts compiled a listing of nine parks where visitors have the most effective likelihood of seeing massive amounts of spectacular foliage this fall.

And to find out the best time to go out, the information creators also relied on satellite imagery from 2023 to find out when each of those parks had its best color last yr. This provides invaluable insight for planning your fall trips this yr. Of course, the brightness of fall foliage may be affected by one other crucial factor: the weather, so that you'll want to think about meteorologists' predictions of where fall foliage is more likely to be at its best.

Here is an outline of the national parks with essentially the most beautiful autumn colours in line with onX:

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

Distance of the route: 1,025

Tree species: Oak, maple, beech, hickory, birch

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 to 30 October

2. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Distance of the route: 664

Tree species: Oak, maple, birch, ash

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 to 30 October

3. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Distance of the route: 311

Tree species: Hickory, maple, beech, aspen

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 to 30 October

4. Acadia National Park, Maine

Distance of the route: 186

Tree species: Oak, maple, birch, aspen

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 to 30 October

5. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Distance of the route: 186

Tree species: Aspen, birch, beech, elm, ash, poplar, oak

Main dates in autumn 2023: 2 to 30 October

6. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Distance of the route: 157

Tree species: Aspen, birch, maple

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 to 30 October

7. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Distance of the route: 76

Tree species: made from oak, made from ash

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 to 30 October

8. New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia

Distance of the route: 73

Tree species: oak

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 October to 13 November

9. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Distance of the route: 13

Tree species: made from oak, ash, maple, beech

Main dates in autumn 2023: 16 to 30 October

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Originally published: September 24, 2024 at 12:08 p.m.

In 1987, Disneyland developed a spectacular nighttime show by which ghosts, skeletons and black widows escaped from the haunted house to entertain the crowds along the Rivers of America – five years before “Fantasmic” became a surprise sensation.

Disneyland consultant Don Dorsey discussed the history of the shelved haunted house-themed nighttime spectacular through the Magic After Dark panel on the D23 fan event on the Anaheim Convention Center.

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In 1987, Dorsey was working on the brand new nighttime spectacular “IllumiNations” for Epcot in Florida when the Disney entertainment team was asked to create the same show for Disneyland.

The marching orders: Create an exciting evening show the likes of which has never been seen before on the Anaheim theme park.

After touring the park, the team decided that the Rivers of America can be the perfect location to perform the show, because the waterfront area of ​​New Orleans Square offered the most important audience capability.

The next challenge was to develop a show concept that will fit the thematic environment of New Orleans Square. Their big idea: What would occur if the 999 ghosts from the haunted mansion took over Tom Sawyer Island?

The concept image developed for the nighttime spectacular with the theme “The Haunted Mansion” shows ghosts streaming out of the classic haunted house and flowing in a ghostly rainbow over the Rivers of America on Tom Sawyer Island.

Performers on river rafts handled fire rings while tombstones bobbed within the water and skeletons danced on a Tom Sawyer Island stage.

In a spooky castle scene, headless knights lifted a coffin into the air while ghost brides lingered amongst scattered skulls.

Another scene developed for the nighttime spectacle featured pirates fighting with swords within the mast of a ghost version of the sailing ship Columbia while fireworks exploded near the strict.

In the finale, the villain of Chernabog from Fantasia towered over us as flames consumed the water below.

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“Everyone thought, 'Oh, this is going to be great,'” Dorsey said through the D23 panel presentation. “Then it was put on hold for a while until Disneyland celebrates its 35th anniversary.”

After the thirty fifth anniversary celebration in 1990, attention turned to a different nighttime water and fireworks display, ultimately held at the identical location on Disneyland's Rivers of America.

“Fantasmic” premiered in 1992 – but that was not the unique name of the show.

“The actual show was called 'Imagination,'” said Steven Davison, vice chairman of parades and spectacles at Walt Disney Imagineering, through the D23 panel. “That's why you heard 'I-mag-i-na-tion' at the top of the show.”

However, the word “Imagination” couldn’t be trademarked, so Disney’s creative team had to start out from scratch.

“Everyone pitched names and Fantasmic was born,” Davison said through the D23 panel.

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“Fantasmic” is a play on the word “phantasmic,” which refers to an illusion that exists only within the imagination—a fitting description for a show by which Mickey Mouse uses his imagination to bring Disney characters to life.

Fantasmic also evokes the 1940 Disney cartoon “Fantasia,” the word “fantastic,” and the “mic” in Mickey. And most significantly, Fantasmic was unique enough to be trademarked by Disney Enterprises.

Dorsey, who worked on the parades and spectacles at Disneyland and Disney World for a long time for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, later designed the sound effects for “Fantasmic.”

Originally published: August 14, 2024 at 11:02 am

Fleet Week New York 2024 officially begins with the Parade of Ships arriving in New York Harbor on May 22, with Navy ships gliding along the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan.

Now in its thirty sixth yr, the annual event brings hundreds of energetic military personnel to town for every week of boat cruises, live shows, demonstrations and other interactive events from May 22-28, 2024.

New Yorkers can find the ships on the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 88 South, Pier 90 North and Homeport Pier on Staten Island.

Kim Kardashian has been whipping up controversial Met Gala looks for over a decade. Every 12 months her waist seems to shrink further in ever-tightening corsets. Her outfit from Maison Margiela Artisanal for Met Gala 2024 was no exception. However, at this event, the corset was so extreme that viewers seemed more concerned about Kardashian's appearance Inability to breatheslightly than being amazed by her fashion statement.

While Kim has been advocating for this for a very long time “Waist Training” – Wearing a highly compressed elastic belt across the midsection for prolonged periods of time to “train” the body into an hourglass shape – this current look highlights a controversial fashion practice: tight lacing.

Tight lacing is extreme corset lacing. It has since raised concerns amongst medical professionals no less than 1793. However, those desperate to attain a “perfect” hourglass figure usually are not deterred by potential health risks. Cathy Jung holds the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist, which was just 15 inches in her corset. Kim Kardashian's Met Gala waist can't be far behind.

But a small waist can come at a terrible price – what happens to the interior anatomy when subjected to such extreme compression?

lung

One of probably the most immediate effects of wearing a tightly laced corset is restriction of the lungs and diaphragm. The corset compresses the lower chest, limiting the expansion of the lungs. This reduces the quantity of air that could be inhaled in a single breath, leading to shallower respiratory, shortness of breath, etc reduced oxygen uptakewhich may cause dizziness, fainting and general tiredness.

Cardiovascular system

The heart and blood vessels are also affected by wearing a corset. Tight lacing increases pressure within the abdominal cavity, which may compress the inferior vena cava – the big vein that carries blood back to the guts. This can reduce blood flow back to the guts and, over time, increase heart rate and blood pressure as the guts works harder to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. In 2020, a case report of lower extremity ischemia – a condition by which blood flow to a component of the body is restricted or reduced – was reported a 51 12 months old woman who had been wearing a waist trainer.

Offal

Tight lacing has many effects on the digestive tract. Compression of the abdomen can displace the stomach and intestines and liver. This results in slowed or disturbed digestion. Corset wearers may experience symptoms equivalent to: acid reflux disease, where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing heartburn and discomfort. An 1889 article, written at a time when more women wore corsets, described how the altered position of the intestines may cause this chronic constipation and – although some users report that waist ties have eased their digestive problems – Doctors carry on to warn that compression garments may cause midsection constipation.

bones and muscles

Wearing corsets for longer periods of time can even result in changes within the musculoskeletal system. The corset can act like an external skeleton and restrict the natural movement of the upper body and hips, which can explain Kardashian's difficulty walking during her time on the Met Gala red carpet. Over time, this could result in weakening of the back muscles and a reliance on the corset for posture support. Additionally, it could possibly alter the natural curvature of the spine, potentially resulting in chronic back pain and posture problems. The Skeletal ribcage The depiction of a lifelong corset wearer, held on the Royal College of Surgeons Museum, shows a distorted shape.

Benefits of wearing a corset

Tight lacing is an extreme example of a corset that gives no profit to the human body. However, there are cases when wearing a corset is beneficial even by a health care provider.

Some women experience problems after giving birth , a separation of the muscles within the abdominal cavity. Studies have shown this Wearing an abdominal corset can support recovery. It has also been suggested that corsets may help with short-term treatment Lower back pain.

Aside from the physical health risks, wearing a corset like Kardashian will also be detrimental to your mental health. The desire to attain an exaggerated hourglass figure can perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards and result in beauty issues Body image.

Although corsets remain a preferred alternative for prime fashion statements resulting from their aesthetic appeal, in on a regular basis life it’s important to weigh the cosmetic advantages against the potential health risks. The effects of wearing corsets on organ function and overall health could be significant. Although occasional wear is unlikely to cause serious long-term consequences, frequent use of tightly laced corsets can result in a wide range of medical problems – potentially also death.

Fashion trends will proceed to evolve and so will the choices we make about our bodies and our health. However, style should never come on the expense of well-being.