1) Sophia Wennerbeck, 23, an international student from Sweden, gets some air in the long jump during the Men's & Women's Track & Field Western State Conference at Santa Monica College's Corsair Field on Leap Day, February 29, 2008. 2) SMC's Jose Reyes, 21, wins the Men's 100 Meter Hurdles. 3) SMC's Melvin Guerrero, 18, throws the javelin during the State Conference on Friday. 4) Ashley Caldwell, 18, (right) hand  the balton to her teammate Venessa Barner-Mosley during the Four Person - 100 meter relay.

Santa Monica Police Deputy Chief Phillip L. Sanchez pretends to hopscotch during Scott Wasserman's Farewell Party at Virginia Avenue Park on Thursday, February 28, 2008.  According to wikipedia.org, Hopscotch began in ancient Britain during the early Roman Empire. The original hopscotch courts were over 100 feet long and used for military training exercises. Roman foot-soldiers ran the course in full armor and field packs to improve their footwork, much the same way modern football players run through rows of truck tires today. Roman children imitated the soldiers by drawing their own boards and creating a scoring system, and "Hopscotch" spread throughout Europe.

A blackbird sings from a branch along the Third Street Promenade on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. The Blackbird is not migratory but they do move around searching out new and more plentiful sources of food. They are sometimes seen in large flocks with other blackbirds. It is one of those rare species that is able to take advantage of urbanization. They especially like the large expanses of lawn and parking lots. The blackbird is possibly the most numerous N. America land bird. Blackbirds are most often associated with agricultural fields. They can be found in other open areas as well, including parks, campgrounds, parking lots, wetlands, and suburban and urban settings.