The National Park Service is considering reopening Lady Liberty's crown for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to a July Fourth Associated Press story.

Documents released by U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y, show the Park Service requested bids in June to study what it would take to safely open the Statue of Liberty's iconic headpiece to the public. Liberty Island was closed after the terrorist attacks. The statue's base, pedestal and lower observation deck reopened in August 2004, after a $20 million effort to enhance fire safety.

But the crown and its interior observation deck, which soar about 265 feet above New York Harbor, remained closed because the Park Service said there was no way to evacuate people safely in an emergency. The narrow spiral staircase that leads up to the crown doesn't comply with fire and building codes. Visitors are now limited to the statue's 154-foot-tall pedestal. Weiner, who advocates reopening the statue all the way to the crown, made a trip up to the crown on Sept. 10, 2007, and posted a video documenting the existing security and the view from the top on YouTube.

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Intense smoke is choking Northern California.

And although the particles from the more than 1,000-plus wildfires burning up north have yet to have any noticeable effect on South Bay skies, air quality is always a concern in the congested L.A. area, especially in summer.

Unlike traditional weather reports that give you generic results for the entire day, Air Now gives you up-to-the-minute details on how our air is faring.

The site details air quality for more than 50 California regions. You can check out a map to see how your air compares with what folks up north or down south are breathing in, and compare today's results with those from yesterday, or even from months ago.

If you're planning a trip north, the site can also help you prepare for what may be a smokey journey.

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Wanderlust seems to be infectious around these parts.

Remember Zac Sunderland? He's the 16-year-old Marina del Rey teen who set about exploring the world in his 36-foot fiberglass sailboat, Intrepid. He was also featured in the Daily Breeze, and more importantly, The Daily Link.

Sunderland's site has a biography, images and a blog that lists his global coordinates. Thus far, he has been very good in providing daily updates.

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Gas prices may have made Sunday drivers fewer and farther between, but there's still a great way to get out and enjoy some weekend cruising -- pedal power! Not only is riding a bike better for the environment, it's better for you. But where to ride? If you're tired or wary of clueless motorists making you fear for life and limb, give labikepaths.com a try. Choose anywhere from Los Angeles to northern Orange County, even out to Angeles National Forest, from a drop-down menu, and the site will show you your best options nearby. It even offers local weather, trail descriptions, cyclists' warnings and links to bike paths on Google maps. For even more information, check out the site's extensive list of cycling resources from community services to clubs -- even phone numbers for city bike assistance! Also available are recommended cycling books and a calendar of cycling events (if your group has something coming up, feel free to submit it). It's too expensive to drive around, but don't let that keep you inside.

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School's out. Time for vacation season. Here's our list of links that will help you get the most out of your time.

1. Traveling is great, packing on the other hand is much more difficult especially in the post 9-11 days of increased security. One seasoned traveler has created a Web site to help everyone learn the art and science of packing light. There are tips on how to pack whatever and what to pack it in and links to suppliers with the best traveling gear.

2. If you're a Torrance resident, you can ask the Torrance Police Department to keep an eye on your house for you while you're away. Here's how to do it.

3. Check the air quality and UV levels of your destination before you get there.

4. Find a good radio station where ever you are.

5. Know what you're in for before you get to the airport. You can use TSA's wait time calculator, check the progress on flights that are in the air as well as basic departure and arrival times.

6. Traveling with your pet? Here are some pet-friendly options and ideas.

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Looking for something to read on your summer vacation? These lists may help:

USA Today has a cool, interactive list of books being released this summer, including Andre Dubus III's latest, "The Garden of Last Days," which has gotten a lot of buzz. Here's the New York TImes review.

NPR's summer book recommendations

The New York Daily News compiled anti chick-lit list of beach reading for guys:

But not to worry - all you guys out there aren't expected to sit around listening to your iPods and twiddling your thumbs. Here's a dude-oriented list of beach reading broken down by category, with something for the sportsman, the mystery addict and the guy who's just thrilled not to be at the office.

Real Simple magazine asked 10 authors for their favorite summer reading picks in its June issue. The list is broken down into categories such as "books to savor all summer" and "one-day reads."
For example, Philippa Gregory recommends:

Dragonwyck, by Anya Seton (Chicago Review Press, $15, www.amazon.com).
"A gothic novel set in 1844 America. At times it's utterly ridiculous, but it is truly haunting. Think an American Jane Eyre at high speed. A great book to gulp down in a day."

If you're looking for a local recommendation, the Redondo Beach Library posts a list of light reading for beach days, but sadly, it was last updated in 2006. Still, it has some intriguing entries that may be of local interest, including Joy Nicholson's "The Tribes of Palos Verdes," which is described as a dark book about local surf culture.

Coming tomorrow: links to summer reading lists for kids.

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What's it like to sail around the world by yourself -- at 16? Zac Sunderland is about to fulfill a dream and find out. He plans to set off from Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey on June 14 in a quest to become the youngest solo sailor to circumnavigate the globe, and you can follow his journey at his Web site. You'll find more details on the course he's set for his 36-foot Islander boat, the Intrepid, along with a video and a photo gallery. His blog has links to even more photos and news video and print coverage of his preparations.

Zac, whose first home was on board a 55-foot Tradewind in Marina del Rey, where his father worked on boats, now lives in Thousand Oaks -- not that he'll be seeing home for a long. long time if everything goes well. And preparations for his voyage haven't been all smooth sailing. If you track his blog, you'll learn he had to postpone his departure two weeks because of engine problems. What other adventures and misadventures await him? Will he make his goal of returning to Marina del Rey before he turns 18? Keep reading his blog to find out.

RELATED POST:
Follow South Bay residents on their adventures via blogs

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The National World War II Museum, formerly known as the D-Day Museum, is the only museum in the United States that covers all of the amphibious invasions or "D-days" of World War II. It honors the more than one million Americans who participated with extensive military exhibits. If you can't make it to Louisiana to visit in person, do the next best thing and take a virtual tour.

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Photo: Associated Press

On Wednesday, Yves Rossy, a Swiss pilot known by some as "Fusion Man," took to the sky in a set of rocket-powered wings. According to Wikipedia, "While work with jet packs to propel humans dates back as far as World War II, his is the first contraption to also have wings." Rossy's victory over gravity is just one of many successes in humankind's struggle to fly. Where are those personal jetpacks we were promised, anyway?

Mac Montandon, in his book "Jetpack Dreams: One Man's Up and Down (But Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was," covers the colorful pop history and science of jetpacks, from comic-book dreams of the '50s to Bill Suitor's 1966 Disneyland blastoff and subsequent flight at the 1984 Olympics. Montandon also covered the 2006 Rocketbelt Convention in Niagara Falls, New York, for BoingBoing.

Want to read more about Fusion Man? Check out his homepage.

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Everybody is doing the locomotion. May 10 is National Train Day.

Southern Californians can partake in the festival for ferroequinology at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles boasts an entire day of history, music, speeches and merchandise about trains. May 10 is a better day than any to celebrate trains, as it was on this day in 1869 when the last spike was wedged into the ground in Promontory, Utah, symbolizing the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

South Bay residents cannot take a train directly to Union Station, but it is a straight shot up the Harbor (110) Freeway with a short drive on the 101 freeway in downtown Los Angeles. Most of Metro's buses using the Harbor Transitway (PDF) also serve Union Station, as does Torrance Transit Line 2 (PDF).

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We gave you a primer on using public transportation in the South Bay on Tuesday. We introduced you to the services provided by Metro, Torrance and Gardena. These are the three services with the largest buses and the routes on the most important streets.

Meet the South Bay's other, smaller bus services. These systems use smaller buses or only offer service for rush-hour commuters.

First is Beach Cities Transit, the South Bay's youngest bus system. The fixed-route system emerged from a dial-a-ride service provided to the beach cities. The most fun is Route 109, which parallels the coast between El Segundo and Redondo Beach. Route 102 connects the Green Line with the South Bay Galleria and the Redondo Beach Pier. Route 104 connects Riviera Village with the Del Amo Fashion Center.

The Lawndale Beat is a two-route bus system connecting Lawndale with the Green Line and the South Bay Galleria. The residential route runs along Firmona, Osage and Prairie avenues. The express route runs along Hawthorne Boulevard.

Even the cities on The Hill have a bus service: the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority. There are six routes, designated by color: green, gold, orange, blue, silver and white. The routes are tailored to senior citizens and school children, so the service coverage is very limited.

Finally, we arrive at the commuter bus options. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation runs the rush-hour Commuter Express services from the Beach Cities and the Peninsula and Harbor areas to downtown Los Angeles. A smaller commuter service, the Municipal Area Express, operates within the South Bay to take workers to and from the aerospace jobs in and around El Segundo.

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With gas prices skyrocketing and traffic jams escalating, car owners have more reasons than ever for leaving the driving to the professionals at Metro South Bay.

The local link of the regional Metro offers general transit information on fares, passes and timetables. The Green Line runs in the median of the Century (105) Freeway and El Segundo to Norwalk. Several Metro buses use the Harbor Transitway to connect the South Bay to downtown Los Angeles or West Hollywood. Information for people with special needs includes tips for such diverse riders as disabled travelers and bicycle riders hoping to travel on Metro for portions of their routes.

Multi-language pocket guides and even a "Go Metro" shopping guide are available.

A trip-planning service may be used to plot a regional transit trip from departure point to destination. A special feature on "real-time traffic" also offers information on vanpool options and other car-free ways to deal with that irritating commute.

The South Bay's local bus service is supplemented by Torrance Transit and Gardena Municipal Bus Lines. These carriers run local bus services on major roads and express bus service to downtown Los Angeles.

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School is almost out, the weather is getting warmer, it's time to start thinking about summer, and with summer comes summer camps. The folks at My Summer Camps have links to camps all over the country covering all sorts of topics from aviation to secret agents. Pack up the bug spray and check them out!

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Torrance residents heading out on vacation may want to swing by the City of Torrance Web site first, where they can request that police keep an extra eye on things while they're away.

Besides the usual contact information, the vacation security check form asks such things as whether you plan to leave lights on, who is authorized to be there while you are gone (gardeners, maids, pool people, etc.), and whether cars will be parked in the driveway.

The police department makes no guarantee that vacation checks will be done daily, and it does not assume any liability for loss or damage to your property during your vacation if you do fill out the form.

While at the site, safety-conscious residents might also want to check out other entries on the Crimes, Trends & Prevention page, including one on why there is a rash of catalytic converter thefts and steps you can take to reduce the chances yours will be stolen, another on how to tell if a solicitor is genuine or a possible thief casing your house, and suggestions for preventing identity theft.

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Did you know that St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is not a cathedral, but a shrine? Just what makes a church a cathedral, anyway? Find out the answers, plus beautiful photographs and drawings and detailed histories of California's cathedrals at the blogging project by author and Roman Catholic deacon Eric Stoltz and Los Angeles photographer Francesco Curá, "Cathedrals of California." The duo set out to document the state's 36 identified cathedrals in a "virtual pilgrimage," and the blog so far contains entries on 25 of them. These include the largest and the oldest Roman Catholic cathedrals in the U.S., both of which are located in California. The site also provides maps, trivia and a list of former cathedrals and "almost cathedrals."

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Global positioning technology has come a long way. Prices have come way down and the technology has become more versatile than a high-tech replacement for the Thomas Guide.

Zoombak is marketing itself as a GPS device to help track lost pets. The $200 unit weighs less than 3 ounces and can be attached to a dog's or cat's collar, and the canine or feline can be tracked on the web, via Zoombak's customer service line or through text messaging on a cell phone.

Zoombak also has a unit available for GPS's most customary use, vehicle navigation and tracking. The $250 unit can be fixed inside a vehicle and portable, and can be used to track a vehicle's location and notify subscribers when it enters or leaves a user-defined "safety zone." The GPS device is promoted as a great way for parents to monitor teenagers' driving habits.

The low price and interface has attracted the attention of Martha Stewart and techno-geek sites such as Engadget and Slashdot. Early adopters have taken advantage of the compact size and cost to track other valuables besides pets and cars: An art collector places Zoombaks on expensive pieces, and a pharmaceutical uses the devices to track inventory.

Zoombak is not without its flaws. The $200-$250 price tag is for the physical unit; customers must still pay a monthly service fee to maintain coverage. Real-time cell phone tracking is not yet available. Also, the GPS technology is not yet advanced enough to receive a strong signal while indoors. This is less of a concern for vehicles, but the gadget might not work if a dog or cat happens to be inside a building.

Still, Zoombak would be a useful gadget to have for your lovable four-legged friend. Plus, the cellular-based coverage for the service shows signals to be robust throughout all but the mountainous areas of Southern California. And for other helpful products, information or pet-related chatter, visit the Daily Breeze's South Bay Pets blog and South Bay Pet Talk, which appears online and in the Breeze print edition every Tuesday.

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A Mojave-based company announced plans March 26 for a new rocket that will offer Mach 2 thrill rides to the edge of space. Test flights of the two-seat rocket ship Lynx from Xcor Aerospace are scheduled for 2010, according to The Associated Press. The announcement came two months after British billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic unveiled a model of SpaceShipTwo, a six-passenger vehicle that may begin flight tests this year.

But just how safe will space tourism be?

According to the AP story, the Lynx will have a pressurized cabin, but the pilot and passenger will wear helmets and pressure suits for safety. Passengers will need some kind of medical clearance and perhaps a day’s training in such things as operating the suits and evacuating the rocket. The Lynx will have an escape capability but no ejection seats.

Before you book your flight, however, you might want to learn more about the safety -- or lack thereof -- of space tourism.

You can learn such things as how the Federal Aviation Administration will require space tourists to agree to act as "participants," not "passengers," during flights, “since the expectations of safety will be lower on a space tour.” Citizens must also agree not to sue the government if there's a fatal accident.

Oh, and there is this: During a panel discussion concerning safety regulations for space tourism, a lawyer advising the FAA said: "We're going to kill some people." You can also find related links on the site to such topics as How Space Tourism Works, How Space Planes Will Work, and How Rocket Engines Work.

Have a good flight.

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TravelPod sponsors a great site for helping your kids with their geography homework and testing how much you remember from your own school days.

And after you figure out that your fifth-grader knows more than you do, you can explore the rest of the site, including the travel journals written by bloggers as they tour exotic locales around the world, and a game testing your knowledge of famous city and landmark locations.

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Wild about wildflowers?

The combination of winter rains and warm weather conspire for what may be Southern California’s most vibrant spring blooms in many years, according to an LA.Com story by Breeze staff writer Jim Farber.

Want to see them?

Try George F Canyon's nature trail on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

If you want to re-create the wildflower experience in your own backyard, try this list of native plants of the Peninsula that are suitable for gardening.

If you want to get out of the South Bay, spring grasses, flowers and trees are sprouting on the Santa Monica Mountains. Annuals are in bloom at the Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms, near Palm Springs.

In Los Angeles County, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve outside Lancaster is predicting an abundant blossom of the state flower, known by its scientific name as Eschscholzia californica.

For the specifics on visiting the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, consult our Ask Us column from Feb. 12.

For links to other wildflower destinations in addition to Antelope Valley, visit the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants. It includes links to more than 90 wildflower locations, an extensive catalog of native plants and the California Wildflower Hotline, which information about what's blooming where, updated weekly .

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Perhaps it’s a touch of wanderlust, or maybe we’ve just got too much time on our hands. At any rate, we’ve been doing some virtual traveling, something that takes just a few taps on the computer keyboard and a little imagination about what we could do if we were really there. Here are some of our favorite spots:

Paris
Even though France is nine hours ahead of us, viewing the iconic image of the Eiffel Tower is a thrill anytime of the day or night. The glittering nighttime view is spectacular — and if you click on the widescreen choice, you may see a light shining from an upper story window to the left of the screen. Could it be Gigi’s apartment? If your timing is right, you can track the moon from one side to the other. You can almost taste the croissants when the tower is framed with pink clouds at dawn.

Rome
This site links to a webcam that provides a peek at the most famous landmarks of Italy’s capital city. While most sites are illuminated at night, the daytime views are much more interesting, especially the Colosseum and Roman Forum. When you get home from work at night, pour yourself a glass of prosecco and take a cyber peek.

Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border near Buffalo, N.Y., is the most powerful waterfall in North America, with 4 million to 6 million cubic feet of the Niagara River pouring over the crest every minute. Even covered with ice and snow, the natural beauty of the site shows through.

Outer Space
If you’re lucky enough to have visited the above locales in person and are looking for something different, this Web site is out of this world.
Launched in 1999, the site has something for everyone: timely stories and photos about space, the latest technology news, even a discussion of space movies.
We were especially intrigued this past week with photos of the lunar eclipse, as well as the satellite-killing missile launched from a U.S. Navy ship.

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Metro is meeting today to discuss the “subway to the sea,” which doesn’t exist yet. But transit to downtown does. However, higher gas prices, closed off streets and high parking fees really make going to downtown Los Angeles inconvenient on the weekends. Weekdays too. Weekdays, maybe you don't have a choice about whether to go, but you do have a choice on weekends, and that could mean you're skipping a downtown happening.
But if you use the Metro, you won't have to.
A visit to the Metro Web site will not only help you plan your trip, but it'll also let you know what's happening near a Metro station.
For example: Next month, in China Town, there will be New Year's celebration from Feb. 9 to 11. And on Feb. 24, the 2008 Amgen Tour of California bicycle race will end at the Rose Bowl, and Metro and Pasadena will provide a shuttle link from the Gold Line to the Rose Bowl.

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The air in the South Bay is usually pretty clear. But if you're traveling or commuting inland, you might want to check the air quality before you go. This comprehensive site has links listing air quality and UV forecasts.

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Keep up with South Bay globetrotters with the new blog links we've added to the links column at the right.

Jamie Roach, a Redondo Beach native, is blogging about his experiences in Uganda where he works to rebuild war-ravaged areas.

The Mathers, a Redondo Beach family that set sail in 2005 for a five-year journey, are blogging about their voyage around the world. You can also track them on a map and see a lot of photos from the places they have visited so far, including a gorgeous pic of the kids in Malaysia.

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The Associated Press has another sobering report about the state of the U.S. dollar:

At least one of the seven wonders of the world is now off limits if you have only U.S. currency in your pocket. India’s tourism minister said Thursday that the dollar will no longer be accepted at the Taj Mahal and other national tourist sites.

For years tourists visiting most sites in India were charged either $5, or 250 rupees.

After falling 11 percent in 2007, hitting nine-year lows to hoover around 39 rupees, the dollar is out.

Charging only rupees now seems more practical and will save tourists money because “the dollar was weaker against the rupee,” Tourism Minister Ambika Soni told the CNN-IBN news channel. “Before the dollar lost its value, there was a demand to have (admission tickets) just in rupees,” he added.

The Taj Mahal, India’s famed white marble monument to love, began refusing dollars in November.

It means just one more place where American tourists will have to shell out more money — now nearly $20.

The dollar hit record lows of $1.4967 against the euro on Nov. 23, the weakest since that currency began trading in 1999, and was down against almost every major currency Thursday.

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If you're traveling for the holidays, but hate to leave Fido home alone, you're in luck. Find travel tips and pet-friendly hotels.

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Want to tune out your relatives by listening to the radio, but not sure which stations come in loud and clear at grandma's house? By clicking here, it's easy to find out which stations have a strong signal whereever you travel. When you enter a zip code, dozens of stations are listed by their signal strengths.

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If you want to build some offbeat - and a bit macabre - pit stops into your roadtrip, check out these unusual celebrity gravesites. These are the flippered, furried, and feathered celebrities. Mr. Ed, Flipper, and Elsie the Cow have special resting places and you can visit them, if not in person, at least on the Web.

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San Franciscans are used to living in one of the world's highest-rent cities, but even many of them winced Wednesday as gas prices neared $4 per gallon for regular-grade fuel. Los Angeles was No. 2 at $3.32 per gallon. If you're planning a holiday trip by car, you might want to know what it will cost you in fuel before heading out. The American Automobile Association has a site to help make that easy. By answering a few questions here.

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Find the cheapest local gas prices by clicking here. You can also get tips for getting more miles per gallon and link to the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

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With holiday travel on the horizon, it's time to review the various Transportation Security Administration rules and regulations regarding airplane travelers here.

From the same site, here's the TSA's Wait Time calculator. Input some basic departure information and find out roughly how long you can expect to wait in the security screening line here.

To check basic arrival and departure information for domestic flights, or the weather and status at most domestic airports click here.

Here's one of many sites that will track in-progress flights.

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