NASA Mission to Mercury Nearing Its End

Surface of planet Mercury
(Image: Science/AAAS)
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One of America's great gifts to the world is its space exploration program. Among its accomplishments was the Messenger spacecraft, the first vessel to orbit the planet Mercury. Messenger has transmitted invaluable data about the first planet from the Sun. The information, according to a recent Scientific American article, has reshaped concepts about Mercury. These developments are exciting, and one would understand why NASA would have an urge to take a victory lap in recognition of a job well done.

The greater triumph, though, is the scientists' dedication to answering questions about the solar system that have been around since the time of the Pharaohs. Nailing down "truth" is a complicated activity in any field; the Messenger mission is a reminder that these endeavors are more than worth it.

Barely Surviving Frederick's of Hollywood Goes Full Monty with Online Sales

Frederick's of Hollywood
(Image: usatoday.com)

Once upon a time, Frederick's of Hollywood defined campy lingerie taste. The brand usually had its tongue firmly in its cheek, with its suggestive outfits and hilarious poses. Alas, Victoria's Secret, with its supermodels dressed in nothing much, seized the boudoir couture market niche. VS's surge, not so coincidentally, paralleled the popularity of contemporary cheesecake magazines as well as the desire of horny hedge fund managers to chase trophy blondes.

Honest, but downmarket Frederick's finally threw in the towel. All of its 94 stores have been shuttered, according to a recent story in the Los Angeles Times. The once-proud brand may now be found on the web, along with a cast of millions of URL-based enterprises. It's a depressing development. Frederick's once served as a refreshing antidote to inoffensive mall merchandisers and pointless prudery. That's now been banished to the Internet and the doubtful "benefits" of data-driven sales.

Apple's Woz, Stan Lee Join Forces to Bring Comic Con to Silicon Valley

Image: venturebeat.com

The most recent California earthquake was not caused by nature, but by human activity. That's the impact the alliance of Apple eminence grise Steve Wozniak and cartoon tycoon Stan Lee recently created. According to a report in siliconvalley.com, the duo will work together to bring Comic Con 2016 to the California Republic. Called Silicon Valley Comic Con 2016, the event will be held in San Jose, the heart of tech's gold rush country.

The linkage of high tech and the world of comics has big-time potential. The comic community moves by its own rules, as does tech. The consumer market for comics, with its universal appeal, relatively low production costs, and unrivaled print/electronic crossover appeal, is built for continued growth. Placing the comic fan base in the heart of Silicon Valley is a dream for marketers, developers, and fans.

The event, the first of its kind in Silicon Valley, promises to be an enormous hit, with impact well beyond the rumbles participants may feel just a few miles from the San Andreas Fault.

Napa Vintner Joseph Phelps -- RIP

Image: josephphelps.com

Joseph Phelps, who passed away recently at age 87, did not grow up in the wine trade. La famille Phelps made its fortune in Colorado's construction business. According to The Wine Spectator's obit of Phelps, the nascent wine wizard opened an office for his clan's construction biz in San Francisco. His attention quickly moved beyond the Golden Gate to Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Phelps quickly became a force, best known for producing fine Cabernet Sauvignons such as Insignia. His longest lasting contribution was bringing Rhone varieties to northern California's vineyards.

These days, it's easy to forget that West Coast vineyards were once better known for jug brands than boutique production. Phelps helped change that outlook for the better, and stimulated the popular belief that wines from Napa and Sonoma could hold their own against Old World stars. Phelps deserves a toast from anyone who likes wine for his belief in quality and a determination to see it realized.

Apple Bans Selfie Sticks at Worldwide Developers Conference

Today show "talent" taking a selfie.

Selfie sticks, once perceived as a useful photographic gimmick, have become a scourge at events and tourist sites. Even Apple has become exasperated with the thinly disguised car antennae. According to a Business Insider story reposted in sfgate.com, the trendy tech firm has banned selfie sticks at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference. I'm expecting addict-style selfie withdrawals on an unprecedented scale at the San Francisco event.

The Second President Clinton

Hillary Clinton's announcement of her candidacy for the 2016 Democratic Party presidential nomination came out via Twitter on a sunny April Sunday. The former Secretary of State and former First Lady learned the hard way about social media. This time, she let tweets do the work of spreading the news that surprised absolutely no one.

Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea Clinton
(Image: guardian.com)

While most of the Democratic Party is offering a nolo contendere to the formidable Clinton political apparatus, the Republican Party will not be so accommodating. The GOP will certainly want to make la famille Clinton a key issue in the upcoming campaign. To that end, Chelsea Clinton will become fair game, especially as she plays a central role in Mom's political march and in the Clinton Foundation. Expect the Republicans to drag media darling Chelsea into the mud.

Ditto for the Clinton Foundation. Mrs. C. will have some explaining to do regarding selected foundation initiatives, with medical programs focusing on sexual behavior at the top of the list. It's red meat for evangelical Christians, who form a significant portion of the GOP's primary voters.

Of course, there's Benghazi, which Fox News and other right-wing propagandists insist has dark, even criminal overtones. Where Hillary will have a significant problem is the Affordable Care Act. Her position on Obamacare will be telling, and the Republicans could make hay linking Hillary to this controversial program.

Ironically, the person who can least help the Clintons return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is its current occupant, Barack Obama. The president is caught in a net consisting of a health care conundrum, a middle-class freakout over Common Core, a mutiny over Iran, so-so economic progress for the majority of Americans, and a hostile Congress. The so-called "post-racial" society that liberals so triumphantly proclaimed after Obama's 2008 election has turned quite sour. Count on the GOP to tie Hillary and The One together.

Mrs. Clinton has never forgotten how men couldn't quite bring themselves to vote for a woman to be Commander-in-Chief. Compounding that obstacle will be her age: she will be nearly as old as Ronald Reagan was when he ran against Jimmy Carter in 1980. Finally, the First Gentleman lurks in the background. He's an X factor.

Tokyo Neighborhood Declares Godzilla Its "Tourism Ambassador"

Godzilla
(Image: nytimes.com)

Cities of varying scale have typically found spokespeople to promote the virtues of the ambitious metropolis. There's nothing new in this approach. However, the central Tokyo neighborhood of Shinjuku has taken the concept to another level. According to a story in theverge.com, Shinjuku's mayor recently declared the one and only Godzilla as the high-profile district's "tourism ambassador." I'm not certain how the fiery beast will greet both Japanese and gaijin tourists, but the fictitious beast makes a helluva companion for a selfie. However, I do advise Godzilla-fearing visitors to press "send" quickly, as the creature has a reputation for being a bit hot tempered.

Nixon's Western White House For Sale

La Casa Pacifica
(Image: wsj.com)

In case you need real estate's version of a safe deposit box for your cash, consider putting in a bid for Richard Nixon's former residence in San Clemente, California. Known as the "Western White House," the home and surrounding acreage sit on some of the Golden State's most desirable beachfront property. (Ironically, there is more than one "Western White House," including George W. Bush's ranch in Texas.)

According to a story in today's Orange County Register, the asking price for Tricky Dick's Pacific hideaway is $75 million. Even by New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, London, or Monte Carlo standards, that's a lot of money. The article did not state whether there would be an open house for prospective buyers, complete with annoying real estate brokers asking if their visitors have "representation."

Not even former president Bill Clinton can afford Nixon's "La Casa Pacifica." That's too bad, as the San Clemente compound would seem like a comfortable refuge for Chief Executives who've experienced a brush with impeachment.