The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

Consumer

Well-Known Member

While obviously the loss of life and home is the greatest loss there is in these fires, the loss of historical sites makes me so sad. These are places that, while conceivably could be rebuilt, won't be, and even if they were they wouldn't have the history attached. So much beauty and legacy gone.

Whether it was incompetence or wickedness, the leaders of Los Angeles and California have really failed their constituents by not taking the appropriate action to prevent all of this. California's refusal to do prescribed fires and fill their reservoirs are decisions that are directly responsible for this disaster.
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
I will just say, and I preface this with I do not know what was or was not done to help prevent this in Los Angeles - but sometimes there is just a perfect storm that results in fires that even the most prepared communities would be helpless against. We see it time and time again up here in the Okanagan. Sometimes there is really just nothing you can do.

They were in a very untenable situation with the crazy winds, wind and fire is a disaster, always.

For now, let them get these under control, and hopefully investigations will occur that help shine a light on what happened, and what can be done better.
 

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
Just had to stop in tonight and leave a message, as I am thinking of all of my California friends tonight after seeing the appalling devastation happening right now with the wildfires.

I am watching from 2,400 miles away but I am feeling like I am right there with ya’all.
This is just horrific to see…and right after the holidays, too.
Entire homes destroyed, scorched cars, leveled buildings….the photographs and news coverage is brutal.

Sending some love and well wishes to those who are being affected by this.

Stay safe, friends!


-
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
One of those nights where, if you’ve ever lived in SoCal, you’re glued to the TV all evening even if you don’t live there now.

Over 10,000 homes and businesses now tallied as gone; looting and burglaries happening tonight in the burned neighborhoods at the homes and stores still standing or only partially damaged.

Just tragic.

There was a big wildfire and firestorm in November, 1961 that burned down 500 homes in Bel Air, and it got near Walt’s home in Holmby Hills. But his area of that hillside survived. Nothing like this one though!
 

Parteecia

Well-Known Member
I will just say, and I preface this with I do not know what was or was not done to help prevent this in Los Angeles - but sometimes there is just a perfect storm that results in fires that even the most prepared communities would be helpless against. We see it time and time again up here in the Okanagan. Sometimes there is really just nothing you can do.

They were in a very untenable situation with the crazy winds, wind and fire is a disaster, always.

For now, let them get these under control, and hopefully investigations will occur that help shine a light on what happened, and what can be done better.
And the historic lack of rain.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
And the historic lack of rain.

I read today that the LA basin hasn't seen this tiny amount of rain by early January since the winter of 1967! And there's no rain in the long-range forecast until the end of the month. o_O

California is always a state of extremes, but this winter it's on full display. The northern third of the state is 140% to 180% of normal rainfall for this date, the middle third of the state is 80% to 120% of normal for this date, and the southern third of the state is 0% to 20% of normal for this date.

Add in a windy day or two in the Hollywood hills, plus a spark, and it's a recipe for disaster!

And since November, any rainmaking weather system totally wimps out once it reaches Point Concepcion and rounds the curve towards Santa Barbara. From the Vandenberg Space Force Base on south, it's even drier than I like my martinis!

Wet Above, Dry Below.jpg
 
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TP2000

Well-Known Member
I will just say, and I preface this with I do not know what was or was not done to help prevent this in Los Angeles - but sometimes there is just a perfect storm that results in fires that even the most prepared communities would be helpless against. We see it time and time again up here in the Okanagan. Sometimes there is really just nothing you can do.

They were in a very untenable situation with the crazy winds, wind and fire is a disaster, always.

For now, let them get these under control, and hopefully investigations will occur that help shine a light on what happened, and what can be done better.

You have some very valid points; for the past 10,000 years since the last glacier melted, Southern California has had geography and climate that leads to hot, dry winds blowing down out of the mountains routinely from September through February. A big high pressure system parks itself over the Southwest desert, and off we go!

But after watching the TV news all night long, the outrage and the anger stems not from geography or natural climate, but from elected officials. Especially because the anger is from folks who pay some of the highest taxes in the nation and then some. The footage of the mayor arriving at LAX and staring blankly and silently for two full minutes at the wall of a jetway while she bizarrely ignores the press 4 feet away asking her pointed questions was brutal. Then a few hours later, with a script in front of her, she told her scared and scarred citizens to "go to URL" to get assistance.

Performances like that, and it's clear now that they are merely performances, are cause for legitimate anger and outrage. We don't need to wait for a 4 month investigation and then a Blue Ribbon Committee to be formed in 2026 to figure that out.

Meanwhile, there's no rain in sight and more Santa Ana winds are forecast for next Monday and Tuesday. 🤔
 

truecoat

Well-Known Member
While obviously the loss of life and home is the greatest loss there is in these fires, the loss of historical sites makes me so sad. These are places that, while conceivably could be rebuilt, won't be, and even if they were they wouldn't have the history attached. So much beauty and legacy gone.

Whether it was incompetence or wickedness, the leaders of Los Angeles and California have really failed their constituents by not taking the appropriate action to prevent all of this. California's refusal to do prescribed fires and fill their reservoirs are decisions that are directly responsible for this disaster.

While there's always an urge to blame someone, nothing could have saved these houses. The houses are densely packed in areas with highly combustible vegetation and the wind gusts grounded the waterbombing aircraft from containing these fires.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
Looking at the Mattercam and it's another hazy day in Anaheim, with a noticeable smoke plume heading out over the ocean to the west. Air quality in OC isn't great today, but it's not nearly as bad as western LA county. Basically, OC today is like an average day in the 1970's, and LA County today is like a moderate air quality day in Shanghai Disneyland.

Hazy Shade Of Winter.jpg


But... the winds are already shifting this afternoon. By tonight they'll be coming in off the Channel Islands and will push right into OC. The air quality at Disneyland tomorrow will take a nosedive, and for those too young to remember 1960's and 70's Smog Alerts it's going to seem almost apocalyptic.
 
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DCBaker

Premium Member
Disney commits $15 million for initial and immediate response and rebuilding efforts following the fires:

The history of The Walt Disney Company is inextricably linked to the greater Los Angeles region, and the destruction from the devastating fires affecting thousands in our area is truly heartbreaking. Today we are committing $15 million for initial and immediate response and rebuilding efforts.

We will be supporting vital organizations offering essential services on the ground, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, among others. Additionally, we’ve been working around the clock to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees, many of whom have been impacted by these fires, and we intend to provide further resources to our Employee Relief Fund to help those facing hardship as a result of this crisis.

Beyond critical relief efforts, we will be working closely with the business community to find ways to support important rebuilding efforts in the region.

“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation,” said Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”

We want to express our overwhelming gratitude to the heroic firefighters and first responders from across the area and around the country whose unbelievable courage and professionalism have been a source of tremendous encouragement and pride this week. Likewise, we are grateful for the outstanding local reporters at KABC and elsewhere who have been a vital resource to all.

While the fires continue to rage and the full extent of the damage won’t be understood for some time, our hearts are with everyone across Southern California who has been affected by the destructive fires, and we urge residents to remain vigilant and follow safety guidance from local officials. This community’s strength is rooted in its people, and we are proud to be a part of it and offer our support.

 

brb1006

Well-Known Member
Been a while since I visited this thread, but I just came across some of Disney History that's extremely obscure in the West. Sometime in the early 1980s, there was an Italian live-action/animated TV show called "Topolino Show" ("Mickey Show") which is similar to The Walt Disney Anthology series. Except hosted Mickey Mouse and his friends. The animation was handled by Romano Scarpa (described as "The Grandmaster of Italian Disney Comics") who was basically "The Carl Barks of Mickey and Disney Comics" in Italy. The series aired from 1982 till sometime in 1987 and aired on Rete4.

Since there's very few information about the show, I've stumbled upon two rare video recordings of the show. Notably, the show predated The Beagle Boys' official animation debut in "Sports Goofy in Soccermania" by six years.




It's a shame the European Disney Comics are extremely unknown in the West. Because the Italian Mickey Mouse comics gave Mickey and his friends more interesting adventures and situations. Heck, Mickey himself actually has personality and attitude!
TopalbanoSono.jpg

591f7888dde5218ee73f4d566ec2be800cebb45a.jpg
 
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brb1006

Well-Known Member
Seriously, the Mickey Mouse and especially Donald Duck comics (mainly in Europe but also the United States in the past) contains so much adventures and situations they put Mickey and the gang into.

If you're still unfamiliar with the Disney Comics, I highly recommend this video which discuss Carl Barks' contributions to Donald Duck's history (Barks created Scrooge Mcduck, Magica De Spell, and Gyro Gearloose) and lore explains why Barks was mostly unknown to Americans audiences for decades until the 1980s. Disney basically uncredited him for a long period with some concepts established in the Donald and Scrooge Comics (Scrooge's Money Bin, Duckburg, and giving Huey, Dewey, and Luey personalities) incorporated into Ducktales and future Disney Media.
 

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