Space Shuttle Landing Creates Sonic Booms over Los Angeles

Something fun happened today! The Space Shuttle Endeavour just cruised over the Los Angeles basin creating two huge sonic booms. Those were loud!

The Shuttle is going faster than the speed of sound when it enters the atmosphere so it creates sonic booms you can hear for miles.

I always get a little charge whenever I hear the booms. Go USA!

The NASA STS-126 (Shuttle) Landing Blog reports that one is from the nose and the other from it's tail.

The landing at California's Edwards Air Force Base went well, the Shuttle will be shipped home to Florida later.

Photos from the incredible NASA website.

Saturday Signage: Time to Buy Animated Neon in Encino

Happy Thanksgiving Survival Day.  Here's an old favorite, the Time to Buy sign on Ventura Blvd.

A red star flies around the giant lit clock and ends at the store door.  It hasn't been animated lately.

There's a huge arrow in teal and Liquor in giant blocky white letters.  Cool sign.

 

Saturday Signage: LA Palm Tree Meets Pawn Shop

Here's a local photo for you that mirrors the national economy.

A classic Los Angeles Palm tree in front of a Pawn Shop as a man walks by slowly in thought.

The S is a dollar sign which I thought went that extra mile.

There's lot's of red going on, with double red letters, and giant outline of the window and a cool blue Money To Loan in the window surrounded by green dollar signs.

Hang in there LA, it's almost January!

Where to Volunteer for Arson Watch in Los Angeles, Simi Fire Smoke over the San Fernando Valley

This is a shot of smoke from the Simi Fire from the Sepulveda Dam Basin in the San Fernando Valley. The view is looking south. The fire is to the north of this shot but visibility is so bad you can't even see the mountains.

They are looking at arson for at least one of the fires burning in southern California right now. Here's a fire map by the LA Times.

Which brings me to the other point of this post. Arson watch and prevention. Not only do the Santa Ana Winds create Red Flag conditions, it also seems to really bring out the crazies. Unfortunately forming a posse and lynching arsonists is now frowned upon in the Great Southwest. But you can still sign up with the Sheriff's Department to help stop fires from starting in the first place.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has several Arson Watch programs around the county where you can volunteer to help prevent brushfires. You go through a training program before being certified.

Here are a few links to get you started. If there isn't an Arson Watch program in your area you might volunteer to help start one with your local Sheriff's Office. Buddy Ebson helped start the Topanga Fire Watch group in his area.


LA County Arson Watch Programs and Volunteer Opportunities

Malibu / Lost Hills Volunteer Program Homepage:

This is a great page with lots of fire prevention tips too!


LA County Sheriff Cresenta Valley Station:

Main Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Volunteer Form

Los Angeles Red Cross Volunteer page

Los Angeles Fire Department Bureau of Support Services Volunteer Unit

Los Angeles Fire Department volunteer opportunities for residents

LA City Crisis Response Team (C-R-T) Volunteer Program


No Public Arson Database For Now

Meanwhile, SB 1130 a bill by Senator Jim Battin (R- La Quinta) that will provide public access to the California Department of Justice arson database seems to have died in session this year. Similar to Megan's Law, Californians would be able to look up registered arsonists in their area.

As of 2006 there were almost 4,000 arsonists registered statewide.

Saturday Signage: Rocket Liquor Blasts Off in LA's San Fernando Valley

Here's a cool neon sign for Rocket Liquor at 21413 Vanowen St. in Canoga Park.

The name refers to the San Fernando Valley's long history as a center of the aerospace industry. Long before the space biz had such a lofty title, engineers with clouds in their eyes and pilots with grit in their teeth developed missiles and rockets here. Later, NASA's Space Shuttle Main Engines where pioneered at Rocketdyne across the street in Canoga Park.

The sign is in double red letters and the Rocket is in fun retro blue letters. Cheers!

Shake Out, Don't Freak Out During the Great Southern California Shakeout This Thursday November 13th

Shake out. Don't Freak Out. Or, as Douglas Adams would say; Don't Panic.

We are having a giant earthquake drill Thursday. One of my favorite seismologists, Dr. Lucy Jones is asking everyone to plan ahead for the next earthquake, so I'm in.

At 10 a.m. on November 13, join millions of people throughout Southern California in the ShakeOut Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history! Please register today.
The Great Southern California ShakeOut includes the ShakeOut Drill and other events to help us get ready for big earthquakes.

No earthquake is complete without seeing either Dr. Lucy Jones or Dr. Kate Hutton on TV. They're both scientists with Caltech (California Institute of Technology) and have their own Wikepedia pages.

I remember Lucy giving reassurance to frazzled residents after an earthquake with her child on her hip. Seeing a familiar face is so comforting after those 30 seconds of sheer terror. After the Northridge quake I was crawling down a dark hallway strewn with objects crying "I want Kate and Lucy. I want Kate and Lucy."
Dr. Jones has her own Wikipedia page here…

The main objective of the drill is to get you to plan ahead. Get your survival kit going, discuss your emergency plans with your kids. Since phone coverage us spotty at best, make sure someone ouside of your area has your contact numbers. That way you only have to get one call out to one person. They can call people on your list for you.

One of my own secret strategies for the next earthquake is to get to know my neighbors better. Trust me, it's much less awkward when you're standing in the middle of the street in your pajamas. But for now, you don’t' even have to talk, all you have to do is wave. At first they'll have strange looks on their faces, "Huh?' But soon they'll remember "Oh yeah, it's that crazy lady down the street'. After the next big one you'll be glad you recognize each other.

Saturday Signage: Original Tommy's Chili Burger Classic plus New Breakfast Item News

I like the sign for Tommy's Original World Famous Hamburgers mainly because it reminds me I'll soon be eating a yummy chili cheeseburger and chili cheese fries. 

The sign is red plastic in classic red, yellow and white colors with cool beveled letters you don't notice unless you're looking up at it from the drive-through.  The red sign is surrounded by yellow and clear light bulbs. The logo shows their original stand from way back in the day.

I am also happy to report that they have a new breakfast menu item: The Chili Cheese Breakfast Burrito. For when you need to get an early start on the work day.  I hear they are very popular!

Art Update; New Thanksgiving and Art Photography Designs at My AngelCityArt Store

Here are a few new things I've just put up in my online store.

Autumn Song Thanksgiving Poem Vintage Art
This is a lovely poem of thanksgiving for the harvest called Autumn Song. 
I framed it in antique printer's marks with gothic nature designs. I used rustic fall colors of tan, rust and blue.



Office Boxed In; Officescape or Micro Cityscape
I'm coining a new phrase and naming this an officescape. I took a close-up of an interesting building full of glass and curves and turned it into a micro-cityscape. I like the curving green glass and contrasting squares of dark grey granite.
I framed it with granite details clipped from the main image. This is my version of a corporate business type card. I thought it might be fun for sending those job interview thank you cards.