Return of the Locust: Living with an Arsonist for New Year’s
The Los Angeles arsonist who has been making news the last few days for lighting perhaps forty car fires is operating in my hood. Just now I drove back from dinner past the Hollywood & Highland complex, only minutes from my house, where the night before this mysterious person ignited a Camaro. The LAPD is now describing him as “an older white male with a receding hairline and shoulder-length ponytail.”
In these parts that’s not exactly a small subset. It’s a good description of roughly half the males shopping at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market every Sunday morning. Knock on any door, as they say.
As of now, there’s no word from those same police on the motivation, but arsonists in general are known to be on the far side of normal, at least we can all hope they are.
But it’s hard to resist seeing this guy, whoever he is and whatever reasons he has for doing what he’s doing, as a creature of our times, the externalization of the madness all around us, not just in Hollywood… but, of course, especially here.
We seem to be living a reprise of Nathaniel West’s classic The Day of the Locust, published in 1939, another year that was not so good. West wrote of Hollywood burning then, during the Great Depression, and it’s burning now.
Tonight, outside Katsu-ya, a swank sushi joint designed by Philippe Starck, I saw a heavyset black guy in a top hat and multicolored tails forcing the swells waiting for their valeted cars — still Mercedes and Beemers — to listen to personalized raps he would sing to them whether they wanted to hear them or not. Trust me, almost none of them wanted this serenade, but they paid him anyway. Blood money, of sorts.
The City of Angels is filled with grifters, working any angle they can find. And it looks to be getting worse, although we are told that unemployment has fallen a few decimals to 11.3%. Of course that “optimistic” stat came from only 6600 actual new jobs for November in a state where 1.1 million are said to be unemployed. That would make the California unemployed by themselves the tenth biggest city in America, slightly smaller in population than Dallas. And that’s without counting the unknowable number who have given up looking for work and are out there working the streets.
“I’ve got my garage door shut and the lights on.”
That is how terrorism works.
Many many years ago I was living just off campus with some guys and one night the girls next door pounded on our door and trembling related that someone was peeping through their window. I guess every campus has at least one. This was not the first time we heard of the guy so on the spur of the moment me and my friend went out looking for the pervert. It was really a futile effort just randomly walking around, until we chanced upon a guy dressed in black with a black knit cap. It was late and we three were the only ones around and we paced this guy for thirty five, forty minutes. And then he ducked in a duplex area and escaped our sight. I don’t know if that was the guy but the girls did not notice anyone lurking about for the rest of the semester.
In other words, I should open my garage door and turn out the lights?
Okay, got it.
Eh, no.
It would seem Bart was somewhat too subtle. Since you commented, “I’ve got my garage door shut and the lights on.” I naturally assumed this is not what you normally did. Terrorism prompted you to change your behavior. So as there is no confusion, it seemed more a lament than an accusation.
Yes. Leave the garage door open and the lights out. Lay in waiting with a shotgun.
…and put your buddy with the backhoe on speed-dial.
It’s the 1% movement. Occupy Wall Street. Torch Hollywood. Grifters of the world, unite.
Mr. Simon I live in a strange neighborhood,my daughter lives in the first floor apartment.We have NO trouble because i*m a big guy and she has A BIG DOG! If a pack of minorities ever had a notion i also have the firepower! America has changed so please change with it!
How about a pack of non-minorities? I take it they are allowed to have their way with you? Why include that qualifier?
Be vigilant, odds are with Obama’s second term in jeopardy, the bulk of the real chaos and urban violence likely in the run up to election 2012 WILL be ethnically enraged flash mobs comprised of young blacks, the SWPL “occupiers” will look like kittens in comparison. The “qualifier” will be self evident, even if not discussed!
majority of “people” are law abiding. Minorities(of ANY nationality-race-religion-etc.)of thieves,rapists,murderers,marauders,arsonists, need be met with sufficient firepower. Just sayin’
You must admit flash mobs are not yet associated with white youth,and we know it,If so i would condemn them to!
err … clamdigger … this guy appears to be white.
But if an OWS group or some random anarchists gathers in your neighborhood …
Be a Boy Scout.
True but i was referring to my situation and my neighborhood which is mostly latino.
@JAL,your correspondence is not clear,please clarify.
Receding hairline. Ponytail. Gone off his trolley.
If he also blogs, I think we have a suspect…
Slick but not helpful,maybe he could taunt them with sarcasm.We have a serious problem to discuss and deal with and this site has a great resource of ideas where better than average thoughts can be shared(with the possible exception of mine).
Spooky – I had that exact same thought when I read the description. It was immediate – requiring no thought at all – just popped in there.
So did I.
Same here.
My first thought was, little green fireballs.
You don’t mean….? I see it now.
Turns out they arrested a Person of Interest. (See LA Times) Let’s hope since he has a ponytail he is not one of ours.
Personally I hope it’s an Occupy-er going into their Action Phase.
I didn’t think of it until you mentioned it, but it makes sense.
Mr. Simon,
Congratulations! You ARE a writer. I am moved by your powerful description of the carnage on the cultural battlefield that is LA. Empowered grifters, middle aged psycho left arsonist ponytail guys, not to mention the stylish incompetent Community Organizer Mayor, the absolute decay of Downtown, and yet, flairs of creativity and innovation, the best Noodle Shop in the west is booming in Little Tokyo, Dodger stadium gangland, fan stomped into a coma, is LA terminal?
Yes, he’s a WRITER! Glad you noticed. You could start here and read your way through all Mr. Simon’s books. As Tony Shalhoub as Monk would say, “You’ll thank me later.”
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1876963336?ie=UTF8&tag=pajamasmedia-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1876963336
I hope the President isn’t playing a fiddle…
Chiefparker, you know as well as I do that this president is always fiddling. Or golfing.
” And it looks to be getting worse, although we are told that unemployment has fallen a few decimals”
I am glad you pointed that out Mr. Simon. I dont know if there is a reliable way to actually measure the people who are out of work, but it would be refreshing to have someone call out the whitehouse on their numbers. I knew that the unemployment numbers would start coming down as the election grew closer. My suspicion is that those reporting the numbers on behalf of the whitehouse are bald faced liars.
No, no, no! The real unemployment rate is less than 1%. We’ve adopted the European Model so 8% unemployment now represents “full employment”. It’s the “new normal”, at least while a Democrat occupies the White House. So, if the national unemployment number is 8.9% then we’ve only got 0.9% real unemployment because 8% are unemployed regardless of circumstances. And for California it’s a still respectable 3.3% unemployment rate. Or so my “White House Media Kit” says…
Sounds like one of the Occupy Wall Street crowd, mentality fits
Actually, I’m surprised more of this has NOT happened in places of high unemployment, like Los Angeles. I think it’s only a matter of time when really bad social unrest hits us, probably as we slide deeper and deeper into another recession/depression. I don’t really know what the difference between a bad recession and a true depression is, but I think we’re going to be up to our necks in it as soon as Europe collapses and the economic disaster that causes washes up on our shores. I think the social unrest the next depression causes will make the last one in the 1930′s look like child’s play. Why? because Americans are used to getting “free” stuff, like unemployment insurance, food stamps, and God knows how many Government grants and programs to do things (from education to making building roads). What happens if all of that money is gone and the government can’t pay for any of it? Don’t believe me? Don’t think it can happen? Just look at Greece. It can happen and it will happen here. The only real question is, how bad will the social unrest be once it does?
Could be why gun and ammuntition sales are setting new records.
…“an older white male with a receding hairline and shoulder-length ponytail.” Has anyone see Marc Faber lately?
And if the police actually make a good arrest on the guy, what then?
Will justice be seen to be done or will it be the usual wrist slap and minimum sentence that leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the law abiding?
Why should an arsonist get anything but a slap on the wrist. Afterall he didn’t kill a Kangaroo Rat. Those rat killers are the real criminals – out there trying to work raising food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYuYhDJ5Q-g&feature=player_embedded
The French Connection: the ghetto-ized yuuuts with nothing better to do than “torch” cars.
A Clockwork Orange: Nihilists wrecking for the hell of it.
Government policy: cash for clunkers.
Really, this event seems quite normal for our times.
Where is the DHS bulletin explaining how wearing a tie die or listening to CSNY are signs of “extremist beliefs”?
Well, as we have recently learned, the police are not legally obligated to protect you from criminals, including what appears to be at least one enviro-nazi 1 percenter.
That means you have to protect yourself.
Arson is one of the more evil crimes that can be visited on a person and his family. The arsonist is the worst kind of criminal and if he kills in one of his fires, it is the most horrible murder imaginable.
If I were you, I would get to know my neighbors and perhaps establish some sort of cooperative relationship with them where you all look out for each other.
I would also ensure that I had at least one firearm (I prefer 12 ga. shotguns for close work, 00 buckshot, autoloader or pump tactical type) for that 2AM sortie to the garage to stop the intruder, if he should target your property and family. Of course, you must be willing to shoot the perp is necessary, otherwise the shotgun is not much use. And remember to aim, even with the scatter gun.
Oh, and motion sensor exterior floodlights. These creatures hate light, except for the light coming from one of their fires.
A great idea. First, though, one must move from Kalifornia.
You can have a shottie in CA, but there are limits on what kinds and features. Don’t be thinking you’re going to have a converted Saiga 12 with a twenty round drum in CA, but the standard run of Remington and Mossberg is legal so long as you don’t put a folding stock and a bunch of Tacticool stuff on it. My personal preference for a Home Defense weapon is a Mossberg 500 12 guage with a light and the Knoxx/Blackhawk recoil absorbing stock so my wife is more oomfortable with it. If you want to spend more money, the Remington 870 is also a fine HD weapon. I strongly disagree with the recommendation of 00 Buck in urban/suburban neighborhoods; too much likelihood of overpenetration and killing/wounding your family members, neighbors, pets etc. – plus tearing Hell out of your house. No.8 shot or other heavy fowling load is plenty lethal at true HD ranges of less than 10 yards usually. Any further away than that and whether you’re defending yourself or just shooting a trespasser comes into question.
And, if it gets too serious for the 5 rd. Mossy, I can trot out the Saiga 12 and the vest with four 10 rd. mags and the bag with the 20 rd. drum, but that’s mostly for zombie attacks. Just the sight of that ugly black Saiga with the curved AK-style magazine, a breacher muzzle brake, and the collapeable stock is enough to scare half of urban America out of its wits, but you can’t legally have one in CA or most other Blue places; they’re reserved for the criminals there.
If you want to glimpse the future check out this web site. It is a collections of reflections and advise from an Argentine Architect about the collapse of their economy in the 90′s and how the resulting disintegration of society has effected daily life. http://www.silverbearcafe.com/private/10.08/tshtf1.html
My best guess is, that there is more than one arsonist at work, and that they are part of the OWS crowd. Expect to see these arsons nationwide. Just one more tactic pulled out of the hat by the leftists, and their allies, currently in power. And just in time for the new NDAA bill that allows for indefinite detention of American citizens, (denials by the politicians not withstanding), and the potential, defacto declaration of martial law in these here United States. GEE, WHAT A COINDICENCE, WHAT WITH THE 2012 ELECTION FAST APPROACHING !!!
It appears that there is only this one person of interest, he was arrested early this morning (around the same time as all the other fires) and guess what after they interrogated him and found incriminating evidence in his van, the fires have stopped!
It seems he was not only a very busy arsonist but a fairly fast one also!
Los Angeles employment statistics are as accurate as global warming statistics.
With so many illegal aliens, homeless, grifters, fake social security cards, and gamers of the system…you can’t even get reliable populations statistics, much less reliable “employment” statistics.
It has an underground so deep, the cicadas haven’t slept in 17 years much less for 17 years.
Arsonists and sexual perversion have often been associated, then again, Hollywood and sexual perversion have as well. A receding hairline with a long grey ponytail in Los Angeles would likely get you an invitation to an ACORN/SEIU training center or a movie set with Oliver Stone.
I hope you have the correct kind of light bulbs, Roger. Wouldn’t want to have to leave on the lights AND screw up the environment ya know.
I believed that Obama and all his class warfare rhetoric was playing with fire, the OWS crowd certainly has no limitations on what it would do in Oakland, so, it is not surprising that one more turn by the leftists and a screw would come loose.
But think positively, my friend. There IS a chance that this guy is not some lunatic leftist. It could actually be a new program by the DOJ and the ATF, tracing cars without insurance policies. Flint and Fatuous. You’re safe.
Holder has your back.
There is some comfort in knowing that because the suspect is a white male the cops might actually look for him and the media will cover the story.
Expect more of the same across the country if the Emperor loses the election.
Exactly…and they are furiously searching for Sarah Palin memorabilia in his apartment!
Well, that LAPD description of the arsonist is about as useful as that of a South side Chicago liquor store robber being described as a “young Black male wearing a dark colored hoody and Air Jordan sneakers.
Hey! I think I saw that guy!
A good dog is the best alarm system ever invented. Even small dogs like a chihuahua are very territorial and fearless. Anything going on around the house and you will know about it.
Agree on that one.
BTW, the local LAPD officer who covers this neighborhood, a very good guy, told me to forget about alarm systems. They’re useless. Forget even about a gun. Too slow. Get a dog. We already had one – a magnificent greyhound named Zane, beloved of our family.
I was wondering about alarm systems and/or weapon. My hood is getting dicier.
Guess I found my answer. The kitteh would not allow a dog, tho.
The gun is to take with you when you investigate what the dog is barking at and the criminal decides to do something other than vacate the premises. It won’t protect your car, it won’t alert you of a threat, but it is much better than being out in the dark with just your good looks and bad attitude to protect you.
Is Zane a retired runner? There are some great dogs adopted after they leave the track.
Cops, even good ones, really don’t like for people to have guns, and with some justification I’m afraid; there are lots of people too dumb to have scissors and steak knives. That said, I think anyone these days should have a personal defense weapon with which they have some formal training. Dogs are great for warning you, but standard bad guy tactics is to shoot the dog immediately. Remember, most bad guys live in a world where everyone who is anyone has a pit bull as their first line of personal defense. My personal preference for Home Defense is a Mossberg 12 guage pump shotgun (a Remington 870 is probably better but is considerably more expensive), stock as delivered except for a Knoxx recoil absorbing stock and a finger-switch activated light. I’m reasonably certain that it is legal in CA but there might be CA limitations on how many rounds it can carry. CA really doesn’t like large capacity magazines on any weapon, so they’re reserved for criminals there. I strongly disagree with those who recommend 00 buckshot for a home defense weapon, too much penetration and too much range for suburban/urban areas. A heavy fowling load is more than sufficient as a home defense load and not so likely to kill your neighbor.
Anchorage has finally reached the exalted state of having all the bad things of a big city yet not enough of the good ones to make up for it. We have our fair share of young punks of all extractions who are wannabe Gangstas and who like to cruise up-scale neigborhoods for things to steal. So, even here if there’s a strange or unexpected noise, I grab the Mossy to go investigate. If you see somebody in your home or approaching you, you have to have a plan for what to do if you yell, “Stop” or “Go away,” and they don’t do it, and you simply MUST assume that anyone who comes in your house uninvited is armed.
Apparently you’ve never seen geese in action.
Roger – as for cops recommending no firearms I have to agree. Trouble is that recommendation is self-serving. Cops don’t particularly like armed citizens because they don’t like wading into tense situations with the possibility of 3 armed parties – the home owner – the perp – and himself.
I’ll keep my Navy Colt .45 cal ACP handy thank you. If by some strange chance I miss the perp I can always bludgeon them with it.
The BHO cabal, specifically AG Holder, has demonstrated time and time again that the rule of law does not apply to government agents or agencies. I suspect this is indeed not the work of one crazed individual but rather the coordinated work of a few OWS related goons. Remember Rohm’s words: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”
Or some demented individual who needed to be medicated and/or institutionalized, but spent his days wandering the city and begging from churches. I’m waiting to see if he/she becomes the next poster-person representing us, the bitter clingers.
Liberals have kinda run out of pariahs lately, now that Sarah has decided not to run for Prez. Yep; any port in a storm, or another crisis not to go to waste…
If it turns out this cat was using some sort of incendiary device, will NBC (Dateline) be on the hook for his conduct?
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GM+FILES+LAWSUIT+AGAINST+NBC+CHARGING+TRUCK+FIRES+WERE+RIGGED-a013112579
Nice, evocative essay.
Let’s hope the detention of the “person of interest” results in the (purely coincidental, of course) sudden diminution of suspicious fires.
In front of the Panteges Theater a month or so ago there were four heavy-set black guys, do-wopping old Temp’s and 4 Tops songs. They were mellow and not intrusive and people seemed to be donating for their efforts, partially because they *were* being mellow. I wonder how many of these street grifters voted for Obama. (There also seemed to be quite a few sets of hoodied “youths”, and all the businesses along the street had their own heavy-set security standing outside, suspiciously watching the roving “youths”.)
“I wonder how many of these street grifters voted for Obama.”
I suspect they voted for him three, maybe four times. Each.
I’ll reiterate, it is the urban “hoodied youths” that are sure to manifest overtly anti-social behavior leading up to Obama’s likely defeat. Much of the real push back will come from pragmatic and prepared business people and alert, reality based citizens. In the regions where these predators feel empowered, expect local law enforcement to be timid and sadly ineffective.
Mr Simon, I think you are on to something, ie this being a sign of much tough times to come, that we will look back on, and wonder “why we didnt get it, then”.
What to do about it, I do not know, except that your last line in the article is an example of how we are waking up to the safety habits we will all have to learn to do better.
Sad, isnt it.
But it is good to see that , in the article on the burning of the Morrison house, even in extremes the BS in LA never stops: “”The energy’s fantastic, as a matter of fact I stayed here for six months while I was redoing my house and it’s just a great energy,” Delanger said.”
‘Fantastic energy” is the natural result of burning down the house, doofus.
This kind of thing only happens because people are allowed to carry matches. Matches should be banned immediately. Call the Brady Bunch!
Mr. Simon! You’ve left your light on? Don’t you know that uses electricity and thus increases your carbon footprint? Don’t you care about Mother Gaia?
I am sorry to predict that on the second Tuesday in November, gatherings, either for celebration of the President’s re-election, or in anger over his defeat, will devolve into violence. Homes and stores will be destroyed, especially those of persons suspected of being anti-Obama. I think historical vandalism in South Central points in this direction, for instance.
The latest news reports which I just saw say that the suspect they’ve arrested (“person of interest” actually) is–brace yourself–a German immigrant who was upset by the immigration status of a relative. No word on whether the relative is in the States or back in the Motherland. No word also what he thought he was going to accomplish by burning down half of Southern California. Maybe his relative is a firefighter, and he thought if he overworked the fire stations enough here they’d have to import extras?
take care, mr simon. we all love you a great deal.
Bainbridge Island, anyone?
I haven’t followed this story, but I am amazed that no one has mentioned the similarities to the frequent Car B Que Parties in Paris and other cities. Well, actually I’m NOT surprised. If you don’t know what I’m talking about it’s only because these events are generally blacked out by our news media.
The quick description of a “white guy” with a pony tail and no name given for the suspect are only par for the course. That’s not to say that it can’t be a white guy with it ponytail, just that the absence of any mention of CarBQues is typical of today’s reporting.
A quick google search will give you a clue in case you don’t know what I’m talking about: http://vladtepesblog.com/?p=35784
Dear Roger,
You should have included the preceding sentences from the Red Wind: “There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch.” I know that the sensation of curling hair, jumping nerves, and itching skin may not seem appealing to most readers, but those of us who have lived through many seasons of SoCal weather understand the near-euphoria the strong, hot winds and resulting brilliant sunshine induce. Although the howling wind may make the owners of hillside properties nervous, and the crazies a bit crazier, SoCal is at its manic best when the Vientos de Satán are blowing.
Yours truly,
ThOR
Now that the “person of interest” in the 50+ arson fres of the last several days is in custody, and the fire seems to be going out of the LA domestic situation, I still would opt for a shotgun, just incase another criminal/crazie/moonbat decides to visit my urban/suburban California castle with violent intent. Sounds like next time is a dead certaintly, in LA.
I would also get myself trained on how to operate such a weapon, as well as bone up on the rules under shich one may legally employ deadly force in California.
Dogs are great barkers, but they can’t shoot worth beans.
Another chickenhawk heard from. Just how many tours did Mr Simon serve in Vietnam?
Please note that, except for Dr Paul and Rick Perry, none of the Republicans in contention for the nomination ever served a day in uniform. Mr Santorum at least has the excuse that he was not old enough to be subject to have been subject tothe draft.
The idea that the only thing that differentiates Dr Paul from the rest of the Republican field is his foreign policy is laughable. Dr Paul wants the federal government to stop prohibition of now-illegal drugs. He is opposed to abortion, but says it is not the business of the federal government to make it illegal. He says it is not the business of government to define the terms of marriage. He is adamant about doing away with the Federal Reserve. He wants to cut federal spending by about 40% NEXT YEAR. He wants to do away with 5 entire departments of the federal government
In contrast, nobody else in the race wants to cut actual spending, just reduce the rate of growth. Mitt Romney is the candidate of the Republican Establishment, which is the reason for his 25% of the vote. Rick Santorum is the candidate of the Religious Right; his vote comes from wanting the federal government to regulate permissible sexual activity and limit it to married different sex partners who use the missionary position for the purpose of procreation. Presumably, recreational sex of all kinds would be prohibited. And on and on. My guess is that most Iowa voters are not aware of Mr Paul’s foreign policy positions, and don’t care much about them.
OOPS! Wrong article.