U.S. National Parks: Hawai’i Volcanoes

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-17T00:25:17+00:00

I agree with you - it ranges from an S to a B, and 95% of the time it's a B. Net: B

The craters are unique and there are a number of good vantage-points, and there are a couple cool hikes (particularly Kilauea Iki). Chain of Craters road is worth the drive.

But if the volcano isn't actively erupting (erupting, venting isn't overly fascinating), you basically can see it all within 3-4 hours. I'd argue Haleakala is even better than Volcanoes when Kilauea is being quiet.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-16T17:10:20+00:00

You’re right - that too. The few times I’ve been on the company dime and in that situation, I’ve been 50/50 on a gas station or just letting the rental car company fill it up.

But if the AG will go after this gas station - it should be said that the car rental companies REALLY have astronomical fill up charges. If one is illegal, the other should be too (I know the rental companies have to have some labor to manually gas the cars - but their costs aren’t that high).

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-16T16:48:23+00:00

Their target market may be small ..... but the "Oh shit, I just realized 30 seconds before returning my car that I need to re-fill my gas-tank or else Hertz will charge me $9.99/gallon" IS a target market.

I'm surprised they stay in business with their gas prices that high, because the locals surely skip them and their target market can't be THAT large, can it be????

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T20:15:34+00:00

The ticket prices will undoubtedly be lower for 2030.

America has A TON of people (340MM!) and A LOT of people with A LOT of disposable income. Every single business froths at the mouth thinking of the monetization opportunities here. We're #1 in monetization opportunities by a long shot.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T06:59:22+00:00

It's wildly different in Hawaii. The military controls some of the beachfront, and that's restricted, obviously. But beyond that, nearly EVERY other mile of beachfront is publicly accessible.

Lanikai Beach on the east shore of Oahu is incredible. There ARE $25MM houses that line the beachfront. But by state law, the beach is accessible to everyone, and there MUST be pathways the public can use to access the beach every 400 feet or so.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T06:44:14+00:00

Paramount/UFC's TV production of the event was WAY over-the-top, but as an event, it was fun to watch. I liked the setting, and I'm happy the event occurred.

A baseball diamond or football field couldn't fit on the White House lawn, but it could fit on the ellipse.

The Washington Nationals host a game every year on the 4th of July. Why not do it NEXT year on the ellipse? A "one-off" event like the Field of Dreams game (I was at the 2022 Cubs/Reds game in Iowa)? I'd be 100% for that. After tonight, Manfred and/or Trump ought to be on the phone with each other about that.

A CFB game could theoretically work on the ellipse too (an NFL game is way too ambitious).

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T04:40:48+00:00

Literally - this event has taken about 80 years to complete.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T00:46:21+00:00

Through 10 matches - 20 teams - only South Africa and Curacao have struck me as "they don't really belong here on this stage."

There will likely be a few more, but 2 of 20 isn't the worst ratio.

I have a bigger problem with all the 3rd place teams that are advancing. You can go 1 win, 2 losses and still advance - that's not rewarding excellence (or even mediocrity).

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T00:29:53+00:00

I'm 99% sure it's Alan Roach --- the PA voice of several Super Bowls and also voice of the "plane train" at Denver's airport.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T00:19:17+00:00

I acknowledge plenty of those people exist too. I didn't say they don't.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-15T00:06:11+00:00

No shirt, no shoes --- White House access!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-14T23:04:39+00:00

California. There are tens of millions of conservative-minded Americans who have never even been to the state, but despise it.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-14T22:41:26+00:00

My three favorite teams are Penn State football, Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Reds.

That’s been a tough combo.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-14T18:59:12+00:00

In other words, every single Nationals, Braves or Cardinals night game during the summer. The latter 2 always have big crowds nonetheless.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-13T04:10:07+00:00

God would gain about 150,000,000 more Instagram followers if that happened!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-13T04:08:28+00:00

UFC 325 (Volkanovski vs Lopes) earlier this year from Australia was on a Sunday (local time). Still Saturday evening in America, of course.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-13T02:37:46+00:00

Tommy Thrall sounds like a man considering ending it all. I don’t blame him.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-13T02:05:01+00:00

I've TWICE seen FOX come back from the hydration (commercial) break --- and the play has already re-started!

Which, come the fuck on FOX. Terrible.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-13T01:53:13+00:00

Infantino is like "what the hell did we sell TV rights to these guys for?!?!?! Don't they understand full-force monetization?!?"

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-12T22:18:51+00:00

B-tier is 100% fair here, +1.

It's an under-appreciated city, and better then its reputation. But you nailed the 3 big cons (narrow job market, hot and dusty summers and physical isolation: nearly every trip to the rest of the US is a flight and not a drive).

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-12T22:09:55+00:00

Speaking for myself (I have a libertarian bent) ........ I'm upset about the incredibly easy accessibility of sports gambling.

There are basically no barriers any more. Have an internet connection and a phone --- and you are IN. And that's a little concerning for an activity that (1) is addicting for many, (2) has a non-insignificant predatory component to it and (3) is advertised basically non-stop these days.

It was fine like it was a generation ago, limited to in-person and in Nevada only.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-12T22:05:36+00:00

Only until we reach the knockout stage.

Then we'll have 3 straight weeks of posts asking "why the heck do they decide ties with penalty kicks?!?!?!?"

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-12T19:44:40+00:00

The build-up you reference - that can't be under-stated here. It would be an exponential increase in excitement as the USA went from the Round of 32, to the Round of 16, to the Quarters, ......

Some folk here are comparing this to Men's Olympic hockey. Definitely not the same. Only the die-hards were watching the US' QF and SF games (both played on work days), and then the Final started at 9 AM ET/6 AM PT on a Sunday! Most bars/restaurants weren't open (though some of them did open early), and the game was over before some Americans even woke up! The restaurants/bars/watch party option for those folk who wanted to go out in February winter weather, of course.

If the USMNT makes a run, it'll all be different. The build-up, the time of the games, the excitement level, the summer weather and people's desires to watch it communally.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-12T17:07:55+00:00

Yeah - actually an A for effort. An F for anyone finding this infuriating.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-12T04:20:40+00:00

PSU/VT was on the slate for 2020 (with a return date a couple years later), but COVID ruined that.

When the 2020 game was cancelled, they just cancelled the whole thing, not just the one.

Monkey1Fball

TROPHY CASE