Hulk, smash hit

With great power comes boffo box office: “The Avengers,” the superhero confab that brings together seven of Marvel Comics crime-fighters, brought in more than $200 million in its first weekend, setting a box office record. That’s better than any of the earlier Marvel movies, including “Iron Man,” “Thor” and “Captain America.”

The joining of superhero forces must be the trick for box-office success. Or maybe it’s just Scarlett Johansson in a Spandex unitard.

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Sasquatch, meet Kennewick Man: About 160 people gathered in the Tri-Cities this weekend for a conference on Sasquatch. Among the speakers was a Idaho State University professor of anatomy and anthropology whose theory is that the Sasquatch is a large primate that walks on two legs.

This is remarkable news. Not because of the professor’s theory, but because Idaho State apparently offers degrees in something other than potato farming.

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Casey Jones, you better watch your speed: A Spanaway-based team hoping to break the land-speed world record of 763 mph has converted a Lockheed F-104 fighter into a jet-powered locomotive. The rail vehicle’s engine was tested Saturday at a Shelton airport .

If Burlington Northern adopts this technology, expect shorter waits at rail crossings and flatter graffiti artists.

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