And now for some good news, a decent sized crowd gathered for the groundbreaking of the new $2.4 million dollar Venice Beach Skate Park, going up just across the bike path from the current skateboarding area. The 16,000 sq. foot park has been years in the planning stages, and is anticipated to open in about 10 months.
Tragedy unfolded today on a quiet street in a residential area of Wilmington. A man opened fire and killed his wife, their five children, then turned the gun on himself after the man and his wife were let go from their jobs at a West Los Angeles hospital. A letter from the man claimed he and his wife made a suicide pact after they lost their jobs. A sad commentary on the times we are living in.
An emotional LA councilwoman Janice Hahn is comforted after addressing the media. 
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and council member Janice Hahn were at the scene along with numerous LAPD and coroner officials. 
More January like weather has returned after a few weeks of 80 degree weather here in SoCal
While the world's eyes may be focused on Washington D.C. right now, the celebratory mood of the nation was in full effect today at the 24th Annual Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles. Appropriately on Rev. Martin Luther King Jr Day, the feeling there was definitely one of unity and happiness on the day before the historic inauguration of President Obama, the 44th President of the USA. Special guests for the parade included LAPD Chief William Bratton, L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, and other many other local dignitaries.
A happy and relieved former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona will not be going to jail today. A jury found him not guilty on five serious charges in a public corruption case that began while he was still Sheriff. He was found guilty today of one felony count of witness tampering. His wife was by his side outside the Federal Court in Santa Ana, and her case is still pending.
Los Angeles lost a very cool voice today as Indie 103.1 fm announced it is shutting down. Former Sex Pistol Steve Jones and his excellent show Jonesy's Jukebox will be missed. Kevin Bronson has it covered at his website : http://www.buzzbands.la./
Syd Lovelace and his dog Booda paddleboard over calm ocean waters off Will Rogers State Beach just after sunset on a summer like Wednesday in mid January. That's Catalina island in the background.
Syd and Booda (who is a rescue dog) are Venice residents and have been paddleboarding together for about two years. He taught Booda in the calm waters inside Marina Del Rey. Awesome dog!
Stan Lee is super cool. I had a quick photo shoot with him in his POW office in Beverly Hills. Still going strong in his 80's , Mr Lee was totally easygoing and genuinely nice guy. While I was setting up some lights, he was busy on his computer working on some comic strips. He even complimented me on the work he saw on my blog, I was so flattered and how cool is that!! Totally flattering. Sporting his bad-ass new tinted glasses and casual sweater, the Bronx native was looking good. His first published work was in 1941 , and he has produced some of the most popular characters of all time including Spiderman, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk , and the Fantastic Four. Stan truly is the Man!!
Recently, up and down the Pacific coast, large numbers of California brown pelicans are showing up injured, disoriented, or dead, and scientists are not sure why. Some speculate the bad bad weather in December has something to do with it. Others wonder if naturally occurring domoic acid may be the culprit, although that is a late spring/summer condition usually.
They pelican I photographed above at the Venice Canals today seemed to be ok as it groomed itself, but I have seen quite a few sick ones in the past few weeks, one in the parking lot at the Santa Monica Pier, and a few more being rescued by lifeguards right on the shoreline. Some have been rehabed and released
Adios 2008, Happy 2009! Here's a selection of some of the images from my Rose Parade coverage today at Orange Grove and Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, California on a postcard perfect 70 degree day. From Grand Marshall Cloris Leachman to a B-2 Stealth Bomber flyover, whith plenty of floats, marching bands and equestrians mixed in, there were plenty of photo ops.
