Feb. 22: Are We Losing the Space Race?

Welcome back from the long weekend, all. If you haven't checked Santa Monica Patch since Friday, do yourself a favor and comb through our news directory; we've put up a treasure trove of stories over the past few days. Also, we rounded up our Saturday and Sunday posts in the SM AM Report posted Monday.

Also Monday, we ran stories about yet another fatal traffic accident occurring here in town, and Councilman Bill Rosendahl from his doctor. We posted the latest edition of our new Moms Talk feature as well.

Here's what's up today:

Weather Forecast

• mostly sunny
• high temperature: 61 degrees
• low temperature: 43 degrees
• chance of precipitation: 10 percent
• sunrise: 6:31 a.m.
• sunset: 5:44 p.m.

The Main Event

• Is the United States falling behind other countries as far as space exploration is concerned? A senior engineer at the RAND Corporation believes so and will give a lecture to that effect at this morning. Dr. Jean Gebman gives a talk called "First in Space, but Losing the Race" starting at 11:15 a.m. in Science Lecture Hall 140. The event is free.

The Runner-Up

• Also at SMC, at exactly the same time, the college will recognize Black History Month with a program called “.” Poet and activist Kamau Daáood will speak on the Theatre Arts Main Stage about the strong presence of music in the community based in Los Angeles' Leimert Park. This event is free too.

Other Happenings

• The will take up a overhaul and other matters this evening; the agenda is here. We'll be posting a fuller preview shortly. As usual, council members will meet at 's Council Chambers beginning at 5:30 p.m.
• Four hours earlier, a status conference will be held in a Los Angeles court regarding Macpherson Oil's lawsuit versus city officials in Hermosa Beach. Read more about the suit in Santa Monica Patch's previous write-up .
• Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill, actor Chris Hemsworth and a pair of Victoria's Secret models are slated to appear at the opening of a new art exhibit at 's Pier 59 Studios West. Fashion photographer/ director Russell James' multimedia project, "Nomad Two Worlds," draws upon Australian landscapes, as well as the music and art scenes in that country and the U.S. The opening takes place from 7 to 10 p.m.

Last but Not Least

• If you want to learn more about osteoporosis, get your bones to the ’s MLK Jr. Auditorium by 7 p.m., when a related seminar will be held. UCLA Health System 50 Plus is presenting the free program.

(Go here for more events happening today.)

This Day in Santa Monica History

• On Feb. 22, 2010, the last in a series of six arsons and suspicious fires occurred at 1025 2nd St., near where the other five had happened. The  is still asking for information from the public regarding the incidents.

Did you take a great pic of SM in the early morning? Want to see it in The SM AM Report? Drop a note to Kurt.Orzeck@patch.com.

City News Service contributed to this report.