Photos of the Day #3: An Autograph Signing in the City of Industry...

Just thought I'd end this month by posting these pics that were taken when I met the very lovely actress and model Vida Guerra at my local mall yesterday. The meet-and-greet took place at Puente Hills Mall in the City of Industry...inside the new Sports Authentics USA store. This is the third autograph signing to take place at this new retail outlet since it opened late last year—the first one being by 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell (who played for the Boston Celtics) and the second one by 7-time NBA champ Robert Horry (who won three rings with the Los Angeles Lakers, and two each with the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, respectively). It's so cool to attend an autograph signing so close to home; it would be absolutely awesome if Kobe Bryant one day does an autograph signing at Puente Hills Mall [or at the Frank & Son Collectible Show (where Shaquille O'Neal did a photo op almost four years ago) a few miles away, also in the City of Industry]! It would've been better if he was still a player with the Lakers if he did so, but it's all good.



Back on topic, it was awesome to meet Vida Guerra! You can see her in the upcoming movie adaptation of the classic TV show CHIPS...starring Michael Peña and Dax Shepard. In fact, CHIPS hits theaters next month, on March 24. Lookin' forward to seeing you on the big screen, Vida! Happy Monday.

Photos of the Day #2: Visiting the City of Venice...in California, that is

Earlier today, I drove to the Venice Canal Historic District south of downtown Los Angeles to take photos of the iconic waterways. With the original canals built in 1905 (they no longer exist since they were paved over for streets and parking lots; the current pathways weren't built yet), these passages were pretty cool to see in person. It's intriguing that people live in houses and condos along these various canals. [Of course, the monthly rent (or mortgage? I dunno) for these residences must be pretty darn high.] Empty canoes and boats lie docked along the sides of these canals, though I'm pretty sure the pathways are flowing with watercraft as their owners row through the passages on the weekends or during holidays. The Venice Canals are a great tourist spot to check out before walking over to Venice Beach—which is literally right across the street (past Pacific Avenue, that is) from this famous landmark. Here are some photos that I took of the waterways this afternoon...enjoy!

Photos of the Day: Meet the Titanium Goose...

I took these photos during work last month, but just thought I'd finally share these pics that I took of Lockheed's A-12 spy plane that's been on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles for quite some time now. This A-12 in particular, dubbed the Titanium Goose (although the A-12 was generally called Cygnus by its pilots), is a two-seater training variant that is one of 15 aircraft that were built under the CIA's Oxcart program that began in the late 1950s. Nine of the SR-71 Blackbird's precursors are on display at museums (and CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia) throughout the nation...with the other six being lost during in-flight mishaps (with three fatalities) from 1963 to 1968. What a sad way to end this aerospace program, but I'm glad that this engineering marvel was still able to go on exhibit here in the City of Angels.

Arase Is Close to Beginning Its Science Mission...

JAXA

Completion of Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace Arase (ERG)'s Critical Operations Phase (Press Release)

JAXA confirmed completion of the critical operations phase* of the Arase mission, formerly known as Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG). It results from a sequence of significant tasks that occurred as anticipated: perigee up maneuvers and extension of its wire antennae and masts.

Arase is currently in good condition and is scheduled to enter into a two-month commissioning phase, then followed by a science operations phase.

JAXA expresses its deepest appreciation for the indispensable contributions and support by all.

* Critical operations phase: period initiated at the separation of payload from a launch vehicle until payload’s stability is established. During this period, solar array paddles are deployed, and status of attitude control and tracking systems, and operations of ground tracking and control facility are ensured.

Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Photos of the Day: Visiting Griffith Observatory...

So yesterday, I visited Griffith Observatory for the first time in almost 23 years! This historic Los Angeles landmark still looks as elegant as it did when I last went here in the summer of 1994...right before I started my first year in high school. The Astronomers Monument out in the front lawn is still a neat sight to see, it was cool to watch the pendulum swing away inside the main lobby again, and it was great to get a glimpse of the 12-inch Zeiss Telescope in the left dome (if you're viewing Griffith from the front lawn) of the observatory.



I was thinking about attending a show inside the Samuel Oschin Planetarium (not to be confused with the Samuel Oschin Pavilion—the temporary home of space shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center in Exposition Park), but it would've been about a two-hour wait for the next one to begin. So I decided to take a few more pics and bought two fridge magnets at the gift shop before I took a lengthy but quick walk (thank you, gravity!) to my car parked about a mile down the hill.



I'm a huge space geek today...thanks in part to a field trip that my class took to Griffith back in the 4th grade (in April of 1990). The many astronomy exhibits on display throughout the observatory are a thrill to see if you love learning about the cosmos. And if you don't care about learning about the cosmos (damn you), Griffith is still a wonderful place to just hang out and use one of the many spotting scopes placed on and around the building to gaze down at the Los Angeles Basin, or the Hollywood Sign a few miles away.

LINK: January 2017 photos that I took at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles



All-in-all, Griffith Observatory is a must-see if you're a tourist visiting from out of state or out of country, or you're an L.A. native who wants to check out a landmark that makes you appreciate just how amazing the City of Angels really is. Will I visit Griffith again, you ask? You betcha! And this time I'm gonna dish out $7 to catch a cool show inside the planetarium. Happy (rainy) Monday!

The Trumpire Rises...

Getty Images

So a new period of uncertainty has officially begun now that Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. All I can say is, it appears that Trump borrowed elements of his inaugural speech from Bane in The Dark Knight Rises... How dare The Donald gives the leader of the League of Shadows a bad name!

The fire rises.

A Dark Era Will Soon Be Upon Us...

To paraphrase a wise old man (who once welded a lightsaber): "Less than 24 hours to go before the rise of the dark times...before the Trumpire."

Get ready to join the rebellion!

The Lightning II Arrives in the Land of the Rising Sun...

III Marine Expeditionary Force - USMC

F-35B Arrives in Japan (News Release)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- F-35B Lightning II aircraft, belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni January 18, beginning the squadron’s permanent basing at the air station.

The F-35B represents the future of Marine Corps tactical aviation and incorporates the mission capabilities of the current Marine Corps platforms it is replacing—the AV-8B Harrier, F/A-18 Hornet, and EA-6B Prowler—within a single airframe. In addition to its short takeoff and vertical landing capability, the F-35B’s unique combination of stealth, cutting-edge radar, sensor technology, and electronic warfare systems bring all of the access and lethality capabilities of a fifth-generation fighter, a modern bomber, and an adverse-weather, all-threat environment air support platform.

“The arrival of the F-35B embodies our commitment to the defense of Japan and the regional-security of the Pacific,” said Maj. Gen. Russell Sanborn, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Commanding General. “We are bringing the most advanced technology to the Pacific to respond to the wide range of missions we take part in and provide greater support to our regional allies.”

Prior to arriving in Iwakuni, VMFA-121 was stationed with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. During the squadron’s time in Arizona, the aircraft successfully participated in numerous exercises and training events.

"Our training in the U.S. has prepared us well for our mission here in Japan and we are very honored to have such a warm welcome," said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. J. T. Bardo, commanding officer of VMFA-121. "Our Marines and family members take great pride in being able to serve here and be part of the amazing community in Iwakuni, both on and around the air station.”

Source: III Marine Expeditionary Force

OSIRIS-REx Update: Altering Its Course Towards Asteroid Bennu...

University of Arizona

Successful Deep Space Maneuver for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft (Press Release)

New tracking data confirms that NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft aced its first Deep Space Maneuver (DSM-1) on Dec. 28, 2016. The engine burn sets up the spacecraft for an Earth gravity assist this fall as it continues its two-year journey to the asteroid Bennu.

The large maneuver was the first using OSIRIS-REx’s main engines and resulted in a 964 miles per hour (431 meters per second) change in the vehicle’s velocity utilizing 780 pounds (354 kilograms) of fuel.

Tracking data from the Deep Space Network (DSN) confirmed the successful maneuver, and subsequent downlink of high-rate telemetry from the spacecraft shows that all subsystems performed as expected.

"DSM-1 was our first major trajectory change and first use of the main engines, so it’s good to have that under our belts and be on a safe trajectory to Bennu," said Arlin Bartels, deputy project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

DSM-1 represents the first major, post-launch milestone for OSIRIS-REx. The significant change in trajectory from DSM-1 was necessary to put OSIRIS-REx on course for an encounter with Earth in September of this year.

A smaller trajectory correction maneuver will be executed on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to refine the course for the Earth flyby, during which Earth's gravity will bend the OSIRIS-REx trajectory and slinging it toward a rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu in the fall of 2018.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center provides overall mission management, systems engineering and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, Tucson, is the principal investigator, and the University of Arizona also leads the science team and the mission’s observation planning and processing. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver built the spacecraft and is providing spacecraft flight operations. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace are responsible for navigating the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA’s New Frontiers Program. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the agency’s New Frontiers Program for its Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

Source: NASA.Gov

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Courtesy of AsteroidMission.org

Back in the Day: Honoring the POTUS on the Surface of Mars...

NASA / JPL - Caltech / MSSS

President's Signature Onboard Curiosity (News Release - September 21, 2012)

This view of Curiosity's deck shows a plaque bearing several signatures of U.S. officials, including that of President Obama and Vice President Biden. The image was taken by the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) during the rover's 44th Martian day, or sol, on Mars (Sept. 19, 2012). The plaque is located on the front left side of the rover's deck.

The rectangular plaque is made of anodized aluminum and measures 3.94 inches (100 millimeters) tall by 3.23 inches (82 millimeters) wide. The plaque was affixed to the rover's deck with four bolts.

Similar plaques with signatures -- including those of the sitting president and vice-president -- adorn the lander platforms for NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers, which landed on Mars in January of 2004. An image from Spirit's plaque can be found at PIA05034.

The main purpose of Curiosity's MAHLI camera is to acquire close-up, high-resolution views of rocks and soil at the rover's Gale Crater field site. The camera is capable of focusing on any target at distances of about 0.8 inch (2.1 centimeters) to infinity, providing versatility for other uses, such as views of the rover itself from different angles.

Source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory