Southern California on fire

Mlenk · Post by **Mlenk** » 2007-10-24 05:01pm

The Yosemite Bear wrote:does he know that So-cal is like mini deep south?

Really? I didn't know that. In what ways are So-Cal and the South similar?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-24 05:13pm

Mlenk wrote:
The Yosemite Bear wrote:does he know that So-cal is like mini deep south?
Really? I didn't know that. In what ways are So-Cal and the South similar?

ok, actually I'm talking more Bakersfield through Orange county, you have a lot of dust bowl oakie descendants, a big problem with "White Power" groups, and there is the occassional big scandle about KKK influence in the police. Given David Duke lives in the Orange County area now..

Mlenk · Post by **Mlenk** » 2007-10-24 05:18pm

Ah, that makes more sense. The vast majority of my experiences in SoCal have been in the San Diego and LA areas. The furthest inland Ive been in SoCal is Riverside, which makes sense why your comment didn't really seem right to me.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-24 05:22pm

yeah, when I was a fire fighter OC PD tried to arrest on of our crew after we got the blaze under control, saying he matched the description of a fatale liquior store robbery suspect, when the guy had been fighting a fire for the previous 5 hours, and in no way could be the person described.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2007-10-24 05:24pm

The average person from other states seems to think that California is comprised of Hollywood, San Francisco's Castro District, and that's it. The truth is that California is the nation's biggest agricultural breadbasket, and many parts are so full of rednecks you'd think you were in Louisiana. It's true that California is still a Blue state when you add up the numbers, but the votes are usually at least 40% Republican.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-10-24 05:26pm

Arthur_Tuxedo wrote:The average person from other states seems to think that California is comprised of Hollywood, San Francisco's Castro District, and that's it. The truth is that California is the nation's biggest agricultural breadbasket, and many parts are so full of rednecks you'd think you were in Louisiana. It's true that California is still a Blue state when you add up the numbers, but the votes are usually at least 40% Republican.

When I visited, I noticed that there were several 24-hour Christian preaching stations on the radio.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-24 05:29pm

yup, and I'm FROM Humbolt, and currently live in Mariposia County. Places which still have active Klan groups.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2007-10-24 05:36pm

Arthur_Tuxedo wrote:The truth is that California is the nation's biggest agricultural breadbasket, and many parts are so full of rednecks you'd think you were in Louisiana.

Oh dear. Thanks for reminding me of the band trip to Bishop, CA I was on in the 10th grade. The town was celebrating "Mule Days" complete with a parade. Marching in a parade dedicated to the glory of mules, you really learn the meaning of the word "shit"

<where's the 'vomit' smiley?>

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-24 06:15pm

we also have Joaquin Mureitta days, where the local "Neighborhood Watch" celebrates bountyhunter's sucess in killing a California Native "Mexican" bandit.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2007-10-24 08:22pm

Darth Wong wrote:When I visited, I noticed that there were several 24-hour Christian preaching stations on the radio.

We also have great Mexican food.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-24 08:37pm

besides Taft also has the #3 spot for largest Subway sandwich in the world.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2007-10-24 08:37pm

Today's news is indicating that some 900,000 people are on the move from the file. Thats a staggering number of people. I don't personally know anyone who lives down there anymore but several of my co-workers have had family evacuate and even some of our customers are out of contact while they relocate. I think its safe to say there are few Californians who don't know somone impacted by this event.

The biggest problem with the impact of the fires is, as Sea Skimmer has noted, is urban planning. This state just gets more and more populous every decade. There are housing developments enchroaching deep into what was former ranch lands or wild lands all over the state. Although our risk of wild fire is less than in SoCal is most definately there.

In the Santa Cruz mountains your expected to maintain a certain distance around your home free of brush. I think its 45ft or so. I know Oakland hills has the same policy. I can't speak for policies in SoCal, but it looks like some of the neighborhoods had similar policies but the fire is just too big this time as the winds are so high and there is a lot fuel in the surrounding area.

Thankfully, so far the human losses have been low.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-24 08:41pm

Here in yosemite and joshua tree we have been clearing and making wild fire fuel scarce since JUNE, and having regular controled burns and hand crew clearing operations.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2007-10-24 09:29pm

The Yosemite Bear wrote:Here in yosemite and joshua tree we have been clearing and making wild fire fuel scarce since JUNE, and having regular controled burns and hand crew clearing operations.

Sadly, all the big-money California people who want their million dollar mansions in Malibu don't want any sort of forestry upkeep, because controlled burns are 'dirty' and 'hurt the trees'.

At least things are not falling apart. From what I hear, refugees at various sports stadiums and whatnot aren't rioting or swimming in their own feces.

momochan · Post by **momochan** » 2007-10-24 09:35pm

Wildfires are a regular happening here in SoCal, and of course sprawling development does not help at all.

But increasingly damaging, increasingly frequent wildfires have been predicted by global warming models. Global warming is an additional straw on the camel's overloaded back.

Not only that, wildfires release a lot of carbon and so become a positive feedback for anthropogenic GW. That's a nonlinear system for you -- nudge it a little and it just runs with the ball.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2007-10-24 09:37pm

momochan wrote:Wildfires are a regular happening here in SoCal, and of course sprawling development does not help at all.

But increasingly damaging, increasingly frequent wildfires have been predicted by global warming models. Global warming is an additional straw on the camel's overloaded back.

Not only that, wildfires release a lot of carbon and so become a positive feedback for anthropogenic GW. That's a nonlinear system for you -- nudge it a little and it just runs with the ball.

The warming has very little to do with it. It is sprawl, poor urban planning, and an unwillingness to take care of the wilderness we DO still have in a responsible fashion. Most of the area currently on fire hasn't been burned since '84.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2007-10-24 09:46pm

Fox News sez: Al Qaeda Started It!

Fox News: Al Qaeda is causing the CA wildfires.

This morning on Fox News, hosts of the show Fox and Friends blamed the wildfires in California on a new culprit: al Qaeda. They pointed to a 2003 FBI memo, which raised the possibility that al Qaeda may try to set wildfires around the western United States. They also noted that men in a “hovering helicopter” saw “a guy starting one of these fires.” Watch it:

Later in the segment, host Steve Doocy acknowledged that in memo, al Qaeda didn’t even mention California. “They mention Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming,” he added.

Digg It!

Transcript:

DOOCY: You’re looking live at pictures from San Diego — Santiago, CA, where the wildfires continue. We were talking earlier in today’s telecast with Adam Housley and apparently police officers in a hovering helicopter saw a guy starting one of these fires. And Allison Allison Camerota, an FBI memo from late in June of this year is popping up this morning and it is ominous.

CAMEROTA: This actually has happened for many years in the past as well. An FBI sent out to local law-enforcement said that an al Qaeda detainee had given them some information that the next wave of terrorism could be in the form of setting wild fires. Adam Housley said lots of people on his block were asking him about it. Obviously this is something the FBI has looked into. They will continue to investigate it.

CARLSON: If they have this person in custody it probably won’t take long to be able to develop a link if there is one.

KILMEADE: A June 25 memo from the FBI’s Denver offices reported three days ago, excuse me, five days ago, by the Arizona Republic, that is a newspaper, they have been carrying the story and they continue to expand upon it.

DOOCY: Brian, the plot they say, according to this detainee, and they don’t know if the detainee is telling the truth. The plot was to set three or four wildfires. But they don’t mention California. They mention Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. We do know for a fact that a number of the fires in southern California are of a suspicious nature and they are investigating arson.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2007-10-24 11:06pm

that's new:D don't blame the greenies for not allowing selective logging, don't blame lack of monet for burning, instead, blame 9/11

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2007-10-24 11:40pm

Unfortunately, this is sadly typical of Fox and I'm not one bit surprised.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-25 04:31pm

Waits for smokey the bear to club Fox news and then sodomize them with his E-Tool.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2007-10-25 04:34pm

The Yosemite Bear wrote:Waits for smokey the bear to club Fox news and then sodomize them with his E-Tool.

If wishes were ponies...

momochan · Post by **momochan** » 2007-10-25 04:41pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
momochan wrote:Wildfires are a regular happening here in SoCal, and of course sprawling development does not help at all.

But increasingly damaging, increasingly frequent wildfires have been predicted by global warming models. Global warming is an additional straw on the camel's overloaded back.

Not only that, wildfires release a lot of carbon and so become a positive feedback for anthropogenic GW. That's a nonlinear system for you -- nudge it a little and it just runs with the ball.
The warming has very little to do with it. It is sprawl, poor urban planning, and an unwillingness to take care of the wilderness we DO still have in a responsible fashion. Most of the area currently on fire hasn't been burned since '84.

For San Diego, some of the area that burned in the 2003 fires also burned again this year.

Apparently it's the homes, not the vegetation, that contributes to fires!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 110719.htm

momochan · Post by **momochan** » 2007-10-26 10:35pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
momochan wrote:Wildfires are a regular happening here in SoCal, and of course sprawling development does not help at all.

But increasingly damaging, increasingly frequent wildfires have been predicted by global warming models. Global warming is an additional straw on the camel's overloaded back.

Not only that, wildfires release a lot of carbon and so become a positive feedback for anthropogenic GW. That's a nonlinear system for you -- nudge it a little and it just runs with the ball.
The warming has very little to do with it. It is sprawl, poor urban planning, and an unwillingness to take care of the wilderness we DO still have in a responsible fashion. Most of the area currently on fire hasn't been burned since '84.

Scientific study shows otherwise:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 084004.htm

"The new finding points to climate change, not fire suppression policies and forest fuel accumulation, as the primary driver of recent increases in large forest fires."

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2007-10-27 03:04pm

Oh god now the left wing crazies! Hey Randi, where's your evidence Blackwater set the fires?! What next, 9/11-Truther granola?

Randi Rhodes Suggests Blackwater Started California Fires
By P.J. Gladnick | October 26, 2007 - 05:20 ET

Fresh off her recent assault in which many suspect the culprit to have been 14 Bloody Marys, Air America radio talk host Randi Rhodes has now wandered into Moonbat conspiracy territory with her suggestion that Blackwater was the the cause of the current wildfires in California. Here is a partial transcript (audio available here) of what Randi said on the air on Wednesday:

I started just doing Google searches to try and figure out. You know, arson, arson, it was like crazy trying to figure out why is that being downplayed? Why is that, you know, just a small part of the story? And you know, every time I look for it what comes up, believe it or not, is that Blackwater wants to move to San Diego and build this giant complex in San Diego right where most of the evacuations are taking place and you know.

You just know wherever there is fire, this administration will be out there doing what it does best and that is fanning the flames, you know. It just spooks me, I can’t explain to you how creepy this whole thing is that you know, you’ve got these fires. Some of them are thought to be the work of arsonists and in the same breath you’ve got a community that’s on fire that just recently protested Blackwater West. Just recently said no to Blackwater and apparently you don’t do that.

I mean, I don’t even know what to think. You know, nobody is saying Blackwater set the fires, that is nobody that doesn’t want their house burned down. Nobody is saying that, but it is all so bizarre that this is America and you have to sort of sit there and wonder … arson, same place Blackwater West wants to be, people protesting. And then you find out that some of the guys that used to work for Blackwater are now in Schwarzenegger’s administration.

It’s all so creepy.
Perhaps Randi needs to take some time off work and volunteer to douse those Calfornia fires with copious quantities of Bloody Marys while wearing a double layer tinfoil hat to protect her leftwing conspiratorial mind from the heat.

UPDATE: The Rhodes "Scholars" on the Randi Rhodes message board are now weighing in on the possibility of Blackwater causing the California fires. It appears they agree with their heroine about the guilt, based on no evidence, of Blackwater. Here is a sampling of their conspiratorial rants:

I thought blackwater was involved in this. I called it a couple of days ago.

Last night Mike Malloy mentioned that he has a suspicion that these fires were set and he said that sounds conspiratorial but after all the years under bushco, truth is scarce and at a premium these days. Mike Malloy also said the wildfires can be used as a great distraction...but this story puts a whole new twist on it.

also there are apparently some blackwater on governor terminatior"s staff...has the gov decided that the black shirts are the ss of amerikas future?? and he wants to be the photo op symbol of their muscle...no no that would just be too much self absorption...wouldnt it rush ...arnold after all smokes 10,000$ worth of havana cigars a month...hes one of us!!! yay yey...look whio we hang out with BLACKWATER AND THE TERMINATOR...SEIG HEIL!!!

Of course Blackwater (or those that have a vested interest in Blackwater) set the fires. How many "convenient coincidences" like this will it take for Americans to finally wake up an realize that it has been an "inside job" before (and including) 911 all along.
To read more of these Blackwater tinfoil hat conspiracy theories, check out the DUmmie FUnnies.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2007-10-27 08:29pm

I don't know I thought it might also have been helped/aided by the mortgage crisis. What you owe a skyrocketting amount on your adjustable rate mortgage, want Uncle Sugar to pick up the tab?