Comments on: The Fire this time: the view from the Pajamas office http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/ The blog of the mystery writer, screenwriter and CEO of Pajamas Media Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:23:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Fred the Fourth http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90507 Fred the Fourth Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:21:47 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90507 I very strongly recommend John McPhee's book "The Control of Nature". It is in three sections: 1. Atchafalaya: about the history and current (1989) situation in the lower Mississippi. 2. Cooling the Lava: attempts in Iceland and Hawaii to prevent destruction from volcanic action 3. Los Angeles Against the Mountains: about the repeated cycles of fire and flood (debris flows) in SoCal and in particular in the San Gabriel area. Another good work on western US water issues, including LA, is "Cadillac Desert" by Marc Reisner. I very strongly recommend John McPhee’s book “The Control of Nature”. It is in three sections:
1. Atchafalaya: about the history and current (1989) situation in the lower Mississippi.
2. Cooling the Lava: attempts in Iceland and Hawaii to prevent destruction from volcanic action
3. Los Angeles Against the Mountains: about the repeated cycles of fire and flood (debris flows) in SoCal and in particular in the San Gabriel area.

Another good work on western US water issues, including LA, is “Cadillac Desert” by Marc Reisner.

]]> By: lplimac http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90506 lplimac Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:08:25 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90506 Not-so-scenic El Segundo? There's plenty of scenery! From the Standard Refinery in the south, LAX to the north and all the defense contractor buildings to the east (one of which I work in) there is plenty to see! Oh yea, there's some body of water to the west, next to the sewage treatment plant... can't remember the name of it though... Not-so-scenic El Segundo? There’s plenty of scenery! From the Standard Refinery in the south, LAX to the north and all the defense contractor buildings to the east (one of which I work in) there is plenty to see! Oh yea, there’s some body of water to the west, next to the sewage treatment plant… can’t remember the name of it though…

]]> By: Anthony (Los Angeles) http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90505 Anthony (Los Angeles) Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:26:28 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90505 I've lived near the Santa Monica Mountains for years, now, and I've never understood why anyone builds up in the canyons. Sure, it's scenic. But every couple of years you get burned out. Home insurance rates must be a killer for people up there. I’ve lived near the Santa Monica Mountains for years, now, and I’ve never understood why anyone builds up in the canyons. Sure, it’s scenic. But every couple of years you get burned out.

Home insurance rates must be a killer for people up there.

]]> By: MarkD http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90504 MarkD Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:41:18 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90504 I'll take the snow in upstate NY anyday. I hope everybody comes out of this OK, but how about building some firebreaks and enacting more fire resistance into the building code before the next time? I'm struggling for the proper word, but it seems we aren't learning much when we keep repeating the same mistakes. I’ll take the snow in upstate NY anyday.

I hope everybody comes out of this OK, but how about building some firebreaks and enacting more fire resistance into the building code before the next time?

I’m struggling for the proper word, but it seems we aren’t learning much when we keep repeating the same mistakes.

]]> By: Lem http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90503 Lem Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:28:12 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90503 Good to hear you are not in the line of fire. Good to hear you are not in the line of fire.

]]> By: promoguy http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90502 promoguy Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:19:33 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90502 Maybe it's because the whole area is a desert and most of the desert is taken up by homes so new building goes out into what is called the fire area??? We live here because, we enjoy living in SoCal. Yeah, I do. Since I'm in the Barrio of Van Nuys, my only concern is the TV jumping into bed with me during another earthquake. If I had the money, yeah, I'd take it and move to the 'bu, NOT. Roger, I've lived here 50 years and never heard it called the 'bu, but then again I don't hang with the crowd that would. Maybe it’s because the whole area is a desert and most of the desert is taken up by homes so new building goes out into what is called the fire area???

We live here because, we enjoy living in SoCal. Yeah, I do. Since I’m in the Barrio of Van Nuys, my only concern is the TV jumping into bed with me during another earthquake.

If I had the money, yeah, I’d take it and move to the ‘bu, NOT.

Roger, I’ve lived here 50 years and never heard it called the ‘bu, but then again I don’t hang with the crowd that would.

]]> By: David Thomson http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90501 David Thomson Wed, 24 Oct 2007 02:29:23 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/10/23/the-fire-this-time-the-view-from-the-pajamas-office/#comment-90501 "We go our merry ways rebuilding in fire zones..." Is this occurring because the nation's tax payers are providing ridiculously low insurance coverage? I have no idea if that is indeed the case regarding the California properties now in harm's way. But it sure is a major reason for many lakefront homes sliding into the ocean. “We go our merry ways rebuilding in fire zones…”

Is this occurring because the nation’s tax payers are providing ridiculously low insurance coverage? I have no idea if that is indeed the case regarding the California properties now in harm’s way. But it sure is a major reason for many lakefront homes sliding into the ocean.

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