“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. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands’ necks. Anything can happen.” — Raymond Chandler, ‘The Red Wind’
*
LA TIMES: Porno For Pyros
NEW YORK TIMES: One Million Evacuated + Half Million Acres Burned=Heckuva A Job
HUFFINGTON POST: In a June report, the GAO report faulted the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, and other agencies for failing to accomplish the “fundamental step” of planning out what assets and resources were needed to prepare for approaching fire seasons. Meanwhile, disaster response problems that have become all too familiar in recent years were also identified: administration officials placing resources where they were politically expedient, and using poorly performing contractors to accomplish critical national tasks.
BBC: Cruise ‘Worried’, Travolta ‘Anguished’ & Britney ‘Real Scared’