Good morning and a warm welcome to your show, Sunny Mornings in San Diego.
We're the daily podcast that gets you started on the right foot and always with a positive
vibe.
I'm your host Melissa and it's Thursday, February 15th.
You'll be interested to know 46 years ago today, in 1978, Leon Spinks beat Muhammad
Ali to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Stay tuned for more about this fight later in the episode.
And now let's check out the weather in the San Diego area.
This morning it's mostly cloudy skies and 49 degrees, with just about no wind.
The sunset will take place at 5.34 p.m. and it will rise again tomorrow at 6.30 a.m.
It looks like we're in for a mostly sunny day with a high near 64 and northwest wind
5-15 mph with gusts as high as 25.
Tonight mostly cloudy with a low around 50 and wind of 5-10 mph.
In the surf report, a fresh west-northwest swell brings near waist-high waves, increasing
to waist and occasionally chest-high by late afternoon.
Friday promises waist-to-chest-high waves, peaking at chest-to-head-high at top spots.
Expect fun, easing conditions Saturday morning with a new west swell rolling in.
Sunday into early next week, watch for stronger surf, though conditions could deteriorate
due to approaching storms, so stay tuned.
On Pacific Beach and south San Diego it's looking good and clean at 2-3 feet anytime
before 11 a.m. with a 2-foot incoming low tide at 9 a.m.
Air temps for the morning surf are around 49 degrees.
The first low tide Thursday will be 1 foot around 8 a.m. with a high tide at 3 feet just
before 2 p.m.
The nearshore buoy at Scripps in La Jolla reads 60 degrees for the water temperature.
Looking ahead in the weather, we'll see a pleasant weekend ahead with mostly sunny
days and partly cloudy nights.
Friday brings a high near 65 degrees with a northwest wind of 5-10 mph, then cooling
down to around 50 degrees at night.
Saturday and Sunday will both be mostly sunny with highs around 65 and lows in the low 50s.
By Washington's first day, there's a chance of rain with mostly cloudy skies and a high
near 65 degrees.
Bonjour food enthusiasts!
This podcast is brought to you by Versailles Café and Pastries in Encinitas.
Nestled on El Camino Real South, just north of Encinitas Boulevard, this café is a haven
for culinary delights.
Indulge in their amazing Eggs Benedict or their gluten-free crepes.
You can grab a panini for lunch or just breeze on through to get your morning coffee.
They are open every day from 8 to 5.
So stop on by and don't forget to tell them.
Any morning sends you.
In local news, the U.S. Navy is significantly investing in unmanned ships, as highlighted
by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti.
These autonomous surface vessels currently undergoing tests in San Diego and other ports
are slated to become a vital part of the Navy's future fleet.
Expected to take about 15 years to fully develop, these robotic vehicles aim to complement,
not replace, manned warships.
The Navy's Unmanned Vessel Program, established in 2022 in San Diego, has been testing ships
like the Sea Hunter for surveillance, reconnaissance, and potentially anti-submarine tests.
This initiative aligns with the broader strategic needs in the Indo-Pacific region, where the
U.S. Marines are also testing new landing vehicles at Camp Pendleton to enhance island
and shoreline operations.
San Diego remains a pivotal hub for these military advancements with local warships
like the USS Roosevelt actively engaging in the Pacific, reflecting the growing military
focus on this geopolitically critical region.
Now on to sports.
Come along with me and jump in my time machine back to February 15, 1978.
The joke's on you, Leon Spinks said.
The man upstairs made it come true.
The boxer from St. Louis was speaking to reporters after one of the most stunning sports upsets
in history.
He just snatched away Muhammad Ali's World Heavyweight Boxing Crown Wednesday night at
the Hilton Pavilion.
In the capital of gambling, there had been no official odds posted on such a possibility.
It would have been tantamount to Poland beating Germany in World War II, or to the cost of
living receding.
Besides divine providence, Spinks had an indomitable spirit, furiously flying fists and absolute
confidence.
Muhammad Ali had been a champion for all ages.
This was the 20th title defense for the 36-year-old Ali.
Think of it.
Muhammad Ali, an ex-champion, again.
You're still my champion, Spinks said to Ali in the press conference after the nationally
televised match.
It was a press conference to remember because Ali, the people's choice, instead of sulking
because the championship had been lost, Ali magnanimously gave Spinks the credit he deserved.
The 24-year-old challenger seemed almost sorry he'd put an old man out to pasture.
I'm glad for you because you did what I did, said Ali, referring to his startling upset
of then-champion Sonny Liston in 1964.
You proved the people all wrong, Ali said.
I wasn't robbed, he said, of the split decision.
He landed some of the best punches I've ever been hit with.
Spinks, a refugee from the trouble-infested Prude-Igo housing development, had begun boxing
when he was 14 years old just to stop neighborhood bullies from messing over me, he said.
But last night he was on the offense all night long while Ali seemed content to lie on the
ropes for the early rounds, as was his famous rope-a-dope custom.
Spinks, who fights as if a red blanket is being waved in his face, piled up points with
a relentless assault to Ali's shoulders, head, and kidneys.
After six rounds, Spinks became world champion after only seven professional bouts to become
the fastest heavyweight in history.
This article was written in 1978 by the great Hall of Fame baseball writer Rick Hummel of
the Post-Dispatch.
And we're back to 2024.
Last night, the Lakers on the road beat the Jazz 138 to 122.
And the Clippers on the road beat the Warriors 130 to 125.
No hockey in SoCal last night, but tonight, the Kings are on the road to play the Devils,
and the Ducks are on the road to play the Senators.
In top news, let's talk about something healthy today.
A recent study reveals Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial art, outperforms aerobic exercises
in reducing blood pressure for individuals with prehypertension.
Prehypertension is a condition where blood pressure is elevated, but not high enough
to be classified as hypertension, signaling potential heart disease risk.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, involved 342 adults with prehypertension,
averaging 49 years old.
They were divided into two groups, one doing aerobic exercises, like jogging, and the other
practicing Tai Chi.
Both groups had hour-long sessions four times a week.
After a year, the Tai Chi group showed greater blood pressure reduction, with 22% achieving
normal blood pressure levels, compared to 16% in the aerobic group.
Tai Chi, described as meditation in motion, activates the parasympathetic nervous system,
promoting relaxation and stress reduction.
Besides lowering blood pressure, Tai Chi is also known for enhancing balance, reducing
fall risks, and improving mental health among older adults.
Regular practice is key in maximizing these health benefits.
In business news, intuitive machines, a space startup, experienced a perplexing 7% drop
in their stock following the SpaceX delay.
Originally, the SpaceX launch was set for Tuesday, but they encountered an issue with
fueling while the rocket was on the launch pad.
The new launch is rescheduled for today.
This minor delay in their moon landing mission seems to have disproportionately affected
their market value, wiping out over $30 million.
The market's short-term reaction to a mere two-day postponement raises questions, especially
considering SpaceX's strong track record of successful launches, having conducted nearly
100 in 2023 and 11 this year.
While SpaceX, valued at about $175 billion, isn't publicly traded, it's recognized
as a leading aerospace and defense entity.
The impact of this brief delay on intuitive machine stock highlights the often unpredictable
nature of stock market responses.
Speaking of unpredictable, in crypto movement, Bitcoin is currently up to $52,000.
Ethereum is almost $2,800.
And Solana is $117.
Moving on to a more local vibe.
In our community spotlight on health and wellness, we are working with a national Pilates studio
to bring you some free classes, so listen up.
Check out Club Pilates, with several locations in the San Diego area.
Pilates presents a comprehensive wellness approach, cultivating strength, reducing tension,
and elevating mental well-being.
Scientific research affirms its benefits.
So now you can check out Club Pilates for a free class, with locations in Encinitas,
Solana Beach, Oceanside, La Jolla, and more.
Just be sure to tell them Sunny Morning sent you by.
And now, back to the show.
Let's talk tech.
A groundbreaking experiment on the International Space Station involves MIRA, a compact surgical
robot performing a simulated surgery.
Weighing just 2 pounds, MIRA is significantly lighter than existing robotic surgery technologies.
Developed by Virtual Incision Corporation, it's a product of 20 years of work by Shane
Faradar and his team.
The experiment, funded by a NASA grant to the University of Nebraska, aims to explore
the feasibility of remote surgery in space, which could be vital for long missions to
the Moon or Mars.
Interestingly, this technology also holds immense potential for remote areas on Earth,
like rural regions or war zones, where access to surgeons is limited.
In the U.S. alone, about one-third of counties lack a surgeon, with a projected shortfall
of up to 30,000 surgeons in the next decade.
MIRA's space mission is a step towards realizing the broader vision of remote surgery, potentially
revolutionizing medical care in both extraterrestrial and terrestrial settings.
Next in Entertainment News, Marvel's Fantastic Four is set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025,
with an exciting cast announcement that's sure to delight fans.
Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Eben Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn have been officially cast
as the iconic superhero team.
Pascal steps into the role of Mr. Fantastic, Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Quinn as the
Human Torch, and Moss-Bachrach as the Thing.
The film, directed by Matt Schachman, known for his work on Marvel's One Division, starts
filming this summer.
This release marks a decade since the 2015 reboot, which faced harsh criticism.
The screenplay penned by Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer brings to life the
first characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics.
The anticipation is high for this new adaptation, hoping to redeem the Fantastic Four's cinematic
legacy.
And that's a wrap for this morning.
Remember to stay tuned tomorrow for more news and updates.
Have an amazing day, my good friends.