The Fire This Time

The photo you see, taken by Richard Silverio with his iPhone, shows smoke and horror in the skies around Pasadena, California.

Despite the assertations of writer Greg Rucka, Los Angeles is not on fire. Its hinterlands are. From places as disparate as Rancho Palos Verdes to the mountains north of the city, all the areas where people fled to escape the urban blight of ethnic peoples and poverty are on fire like sex from a Kings of Leon song.

However, I live in the flatlands, which is immune to brush fires, earthquakes, mudslides and even volcanic eruptions. Me and mine are fine ... and I wish the same for you and yours.

Shade and sweet water, traveler.

Playing (Music): "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon