What Happens in Vegas: Mt. Charleston Burns, Blogger Tumbles

As I type this, the Mt. Charleston area is on fire. Also, I'm wounded on my extremities. These things are related, but I haven't been near the fire. How so?

Well, as is my usual habit, I went on my four-mile walk through the neighborhood and the two closest parks. While walking, I cast an eye over toward the mountain, marveling at the smoke that wafted in a thick blanket all across the northern part of the valley. I thought to myself, I ought to take out my Samsung Galaxy S4 camera, and try out that panorama shot thingie.

Can you see why I was distracted?

Photo taken July 8 and submitted by John Barry.
From 8NewsNow.

Unfortunately for me, I did this while walking along the edge of an uneven road, and misjudged the drop-off into the gravel and debris on the side of the road. I pitched forward, windmilled my arms, almost caught my balance, then pitched again after two or three steps. SPLAT! And ouch! Multiple abrasions to my left knee, right elbow and right palm. Sprained big toe. Swollen knee and elbow. And blood. . .there was a lot of blood, pouring down my hand, my arm, my leg, into my sock. See, not only was there gravel, but broken glass. . .

My own little tragedy.

Which, to the home owners on Mt. Charleston, is a piddly-ass problem. And one that seems to be getting worse rather than better. It's been burning for eight days, and isn't expected to be contained for ten more, at least. So far, the team of 800 firefighters has been keeping the houses (and the lodge, and other structures) safe from the flames. My bosses have a nice cabin up there, and there are hundreds of other dwellings, some quite fancy. As much as I want those places to survive, I do wonder if they're going to be stuck in the middle of a charred mountain.

Anyway, here's the story. Go ahead and read, I'm gonna be over here picking out shards and stones. . .

[Excerpt]

Carpenter One Fire Crosses Kyle Canyon Rd., Burns One Building

The Carpenter One fire has now crossed State Route 157, otherwise known as Kyle Canyon Road, according to the Bureau of Land Management. . .

Read more at: 8NewsNow

Deadly Fires in Texas and Perry Wanted to Cut Fire Fighting Funds?

Hilarious that when you type "Perry Stupid" into
Google Image Search, this is what you get!
From Veracity Stew

Oh, brilliant. Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the linkage, once again.

[Excerpt]


Volunteer firefighters in Texas struggle with financial crisis 

. . .State funding for volunteer fire departments is taking a big hit. It is going from $30 million to $7 million. Those departments are already facing financial strains. . .

Read more at: KVUE.com

AND

[Excerpt]


Bastrop fire burns 34,000 acres; two people killed 



A massive wildfire is still burning, after covering more than 34,000 acres and destroying about 550 homes. None of it has been contained and officials now say two people have lost their lives. . .

Read more at: KVUE.com

AND

[Excerpt]

Texas cut wildfire-battling agency budget this year

As Texas Gov. Rick Perry has stayed in-state for the past two days dealing with the record forest fires there, a reader pointed out to me the fact that the state was set earlier this year to cut the budget of the agency that deals with fighting such blazes. . .
Read more: Politico

California Fires Consume Mansions and Trailers Alike

Photo from source, MSNBC

Fire is scary. And it is just one of the many calamities that regularly strike California. They have to endure fires, earthquakes, mud slides. . .it seems like it's always something. I remember after the May decision of the California Supreme Court to allow same-sex marriage, right wing bloggers were eager to blame June's wildfires on gay people. Well now, same-sex marriage has been halted (for now), and we get a whole new batch of fires. How much do you wanna bet they find a way to still blame this on gay people?

OK, enough snark, this is serious. And I hope everybody got out. A trailer park (who knew there was such a thing in Santa Barbara?) was apparently completely wiped out, and firefighters aren't certain that all the people were evacuated. Yikes. Hope the wind stays down, and they get this thing out. I can't think of anything much worse than being caught in a fire.

[Excerpt]

Southern California battles devastating fires
L.A. fire chief fears deaths in mobile home park: 'Almost total devastation'

Southern Californians endured a third day of devastation Saturday as wind-blasted wildfires torched hundreds of mobile homes and mansions, forced thousands of people to flee and shut down major freeways. . .

Read more (with video) at: MSNBC

UPDATE: If you think my snarky attitude about right-wingers blaming these fires on gay people was off base, read this: Pro-'gay marriage' rallies planned nationwide (While CA burns to the ground-- Are they linked?)

A Word on FOX "News," Wildfires and Al Qeada

It's no secret that many--including me--do not believe that FOX "News" is a legitimate news organization (hence my habitual use of quotes). That said, the morning show, Fox & Friends is an even bigger can of stupid than anything else on the channel. And that's saying a lot.

You may have read that the goobers at Fox & Friends tried to tie a four-year-old intelligence document on wildfire terrorism to the events in southern California. They did so by leaving the "2003" date out of the equation, trying to make it appear recent. Anything to make sure their viewers remain plenty scared. Tragic.

[Excerpt]

Fox Booby Hatch: Al Qaeda Linked to the California Fires?

In that George W. Bush has replaced the U.S. Constitution with whatever signed statement he finds expedient, continuing to use the same post-9/11 battle cry of "terrorism" it makes perfect sense for Fox News, to follow an identical pattern.

With the California wildfires blazing and over a half million residents forced to flee their homes, in Wednesday coverage of the disaster the specter of al Qaeda loomed as correspondent Adam Housley told "Fox & Friends" co-host Steve Doocy that he had received "hundreds of comments" from readers of his Fox News blog speculating about a link to the current tragedies. . .

Read on at: PoliticalCortex.com

Wildfires in California, Worst Ever?

Photo from source, News.AOL.com

I don't mind when a big story takes over the news, if the story is legitimate. This one counts. But how long will it be before the primary focus becomes something like, "Fire Brings Brad Pitt Back to Jennifer Aniston, Both to Rebuild Burned House," or "Paris Hilton's Dog Singed, the Inside Story!"

[Excerpt]

Wildfires Force at Least 250,000 to Flee

SAN DIEGO (Oct. 22) --Wildfires fanned by fierce desert winds consumed huge swaths of bone-dry Southern California on Monday, burning dozens of buildings and threatening hundreds more from Malibu to San Diego, including a jail, a hospital and nursing homes.

Read more here: News.AOL.com