National News Roundup: The Blame Game

It's choose your own simplified reason why the fires got so crazy last week, week!

It was the slow response to the danger!

It was the bueraucracy of government!

It was the crazy people living in areas that are known for having fires!

It was California's policy on fire suppression!

It was Arnold!

No it wasn't!

Yes it was.!

It was the winds!

It was the drought!

It was the weather!

It was Global Warming!

It was arson!

If you ask Google (because Google is the Oracle of our times): Poor urban and unsound rural residential planning and development arguably contribute to climate change, and to excessive burdens on our infrastructure.

And there you have it.

Governor Arnold speaks on California/ San Diego fires.

Speaking from Lake Arrowhead Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger briefed the press at noon today. "Very hot weather and a lot of wind, the perfect storm for fire."

Among the few statistics he offered were:
321,000 people evacuated possibly up to 500,000
More than 6000 fire fighters battling fires
Lost 750 homes statewide. 68,000 homes threatened.
18 firefighters injured.

Though speaking from Lake Arrowhead Gov. Schwarzenegger addressed the situation in San Diego. "In San Diego we have seen evacuations of over 300,000 people and all of them have been very smoothly. There was approx 8000 people (at Qualcomm) and they were treated well." He encouraged people to think about "the little things", those details that might "slip through the cracks." But he is positive about the quick reaction of people throughout fire ravaged areas, praising the quick response of citizens and emergency services.

Gov. Schwarzeneger went on to address his own personal heartbreak at the massive loss throughout California. "We have to do everything that we can to help those people on a state level, local level and also federal level to get them the money to get back on their feet as quickly as possible." He went on to say, "I'm here to pay full attention to all of you. You should know that you are not out there by yourself fighting these fires, that the state is here to help you. We are going to help you to rebuild this area as quickly as possible."

San Diego has...talent (and a redesigned City Beat website)

I know, it's time for some other postings non fire related. Visit here if you're curious about more fire stuff. We're waiting for Gov. Arnold's press conference which CNN promises is coming up, sometime, eventually, they're not quite sure when.

For those that are looking for some other "news":

Been meaning to post about this one for a while (a while being a little over a week). San Diego City Beat, aside from redesigning their site, is featuring short fiction (101 words or less) turned in by their readers and judged by their... judges.

I've posted the winning story below, but check them all out. San Diego has... talent.


First place

Summer Vacation

Our town is dismal, the color of coal. Dad spits black, even on weekends. August is too hot and I can’t swim in the strip mine anymore because Joey drowned there. Everyone sits on the porch in their underwear and complains. Uncle Ralph talks about sex, tells us Aunt Millie’s tits weigh eight pounds. Mostly, I’m bored. At night, I avoid my older brother and sleep nude against a broken window screen. In September, Our Miss Brooks makes us write about summer. I make something up and get an A. Nobody wants to hear the truth about summer in this place.

Bil Fuhrer,Clairemont