Cityrise

Seattle in the mist

Pāhoehoe

Pāhoehoe lava flow frozen in time

Pete

"Pete" the Pelican watches over the Malibu Pier

A wonderful bird is a Pelican,
Whose beak can hold more than his belly can.
Be it crabs, clams, or fish,
It will hold all you wish.
But I'm damned if I see how the hell he can.

Final Mission

[Updated 10/14]

After flying cross-country atop a specially modified Boeing 747, Space Shuttle Endeavor makes its way slowly through the streets of Los Angeles on its final journey from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center where it will be on permanent exhibit.

Shuttle Endeavor visits the donut shop

Endeavor waits patiently

Come a little closer

Look! A spaceship coming down the street!

Excitement builds as this bizarre procession approaches

Endeavor

Up close and personal

Vertical Stabilizer
OMS Pod
Wing Leading Edge

Engine cones

... and there it goes

Squeezing 'round the bend

Safely ensconced in a visitor pavilion at the California Science Center

On the nosie!

Up close and personal
Vertical stabilizer towers over the main engine cluster
Starboard OMS pod with RCS nozzles visible as well

A space shuttle main engine on display for close inspection

Into the Sunset

Scenic Coast of Central California

Avlia Beach, San Luis Obispo

Avila Beach Pier, San Luis Obispo

Piedras Blancas Lightstation, near San Simeon

North from Ragged Point

Ragged Point Sunset

Big Creek Bridge

Ventana Vista

Point Sur Lighthouse

Point Pinos Lighthouse
(under restoration)

Bixby Creek Bridge

In the Mist

Chips Fire - Aerial 40,000' MSL

Updated August 28, 7:00AM-PDT

Huge smoke plume from Chips Fire, Plumas County, CA
The dark spec in the center of the frame is a commercial airliner at cruise altitude suggesting the cloud topped out higher than 25,000' MSL.
Image taken Aug 2, 2012, about 5:00 PM-PDT

Smoke drifting towards the northeast from the Chips Fire
The fire is burning off the lower left of the frame and was not in view on the side of the aircraft where I was seated.
Image taken August 23, 2012, about 8:00 PM-PDT

Latest Incident information [Inciweb]


Notice: Firefighters have made significant progress battling the Chips Fire as can be seen in the latest MODIS imagery (below). Interest in this blog post has waned. As a result, it will be updated less frequently and the incident information will be accessible through the Inciweb link above, but will no longer be replicated here.

This fire is by no means out, and still represents an extreme hazard in the region. If it resumes its rapid growth and/or interest in this post increases, updates may also resume.

NASA MODIS images

Annotated image of fires burning in the vicinity of the Chips Fire
Barry Point, Fort Complex, Holloway, Reading, Hanson, and Chips fires shown
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8/27 afternoon pass
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8/27 morning pass
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8/23 pass
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8/22 pass
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8/21 pass
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8/20 pass
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8/19 pass
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8/18 - afternoon pass
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8/18 morning pass
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8/15 pass
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8/14 pass
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8/13 pass
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8/11 afternoon pass
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8/11 morning pass
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Shrinking plumes as firefighters work to get the blaze under control
Image 8/9 19:15 UTC /  11:15 PDT
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Smoke plumes over Northern California and Nevada
Image 8/7 21:05 UTC /  13:05 PDT
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