Route 66 road warriors Jim Ross and Shellee Graham announced today that they have created a Web site, Route 66 Photographs, that offers prints, licensing and images for photo editors and commercial use.

There are a wide range of images, from roadkill to vanished attractions to classic cars to rear ends (it's not what you think, wise guy). There are 15 categories in all.

And best of all, sort of like a karaoke machine, they can do requests.

Developer Mike Morgan and his Grand Canyon Northland Amusements and Entertainment investment group last year announced a massive $3 billion theme park near the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., on the road that leads to the Grand Canyon.

According to the Arizona Republic, county and city leaders haven't heard a progress report on Morgan and his project, and they're losing patience with him. He has 2 1/2 years to raise $500 million so he can acquire bonds for the project.

The story gets complicated. You can read the whole thing here. 

I'm skeptical of such a massive project, but we'll see. 

Missouri 266 west of Springfield is an old alignment of Route 66. It sees about 8,000 vehicles a day, which is decent but nothing huge.

That volume quadrupled for a few hours Tuesday when a diesel truck accident forced traffic from Interstate 44 to old 66, according to the Springfield News-Leader. 

As many people familiar with the Mother Road know, you can't set an appointment to meet Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. You simply go to where he's kinda sorta scheduled to be and you hope to run into him.

Dave Bakke of the Springfield Journal-Register lucked out and found Waldmire when he was back in his hometown of Springfield, Ill.

The VW minibus named Fillmore in the "Cars" movie was supposed to be named Waldmire. Bob Waldmire is an unapologetic hippie and drives an old VW minbus all over Route 66. But Bob Waldmire refused to give Pixar permission to use his name. I already asked him about it a couple weeks ago, but the Springfield reporter asked him why.

"I am an ethical vegetarian," Bob explained. "After they sent me a letter asking for my permission, another local artist friend of mine, Bill Crook, mentioned to me that the movie toys are probably going be sold in Happy Meals at McDonald's. That made up my mind real quick. I couldn't have them selling a bus with my name at a McDonald's if I'm an ethical vegetarian."

The movie does have a deal to distribute toys though McDonald's, by the way. Bob made Pixar/Disney a counteroffer that would have funneled a small portion of movie proceeds to a charity of Bob's choice in exchange for the use of his name. The company rejected that out of hand. That is why you will be watching Fillmore instead of Waldmire.

It's a good story, with stories about Michael Wallis, Dawn Welch and other people and places that inspired Pixar for its "Cars" movie.