SoCal – Thatched Roof Cottages

October 23rd, 2007 ryan

As usual, Southern California is burning.

(photo by Genaro Molina / LA Times)

Google mash up here with the latest and greatest geographical info on what’s burning, what shelters are still available, and so on. Family out there has said that the cell and land line phone systems are, predictably, running at or above capacity so the intertron seems to be more reliable.

Given the extreme seriousness of these fires’ impact on the human element I sit back and naturally my mind processes the information as it applies to me, having once lived in but currently being safe and far from the danger zone. I think of the ways that my current location differs in terms of preparedness, or what I would have to bring if the order to evacuate was given. But there is something else that is stronger than all other considerations, and that is of finally being able to live in what is in my mind a romanticized view of a Dystopia.

(photo from flickr user Justinm)

Mad Max, Bladerunner, 1984, Equilibrium, Night of the Living Dead. Scenes portraying utter despair, dismemberment, and societal detritus. Though my stomach may be turned there is the part of me that yearns for the chance to see how I’d fair against a zombie invasion, or a board-game come to life, or any situation in which the delicate balance of civilization is thrown into epic upheaval. Gas mask in place, self-fashioned shoulder pads askew, windows boarded, and powdered petro-chemical fuel in tow. What. Is. Up.

(photo from flickr user Laphoto1)

Yes, my views are heavily, heavily glorified and there are those that would be perfectly proper in pointing out that the harsh reality would send the nerd in me screaming. However, I’ve been there – the situations in which life and death are decided, the frailty of so much meat and bone exposed to a combination of skill, luck and fate. I’ve tried to explain how in those situations, as long as no one gets hurt, the whole thing becomes unbearably hilarious. One of my buddies, to this day, receives a good ribbing whenever the story is told of his movie-action-hero leap through the air as he narrowly avoided an explosion. No joke, it was like every single leap you might have borne witness to as our Hero and Heroine slow-motion jump just before the warehouse erupts in flame and smoke. He escaped unscathed, and is therefore fair game.

To be honest I’m just bored, and if given an actual opportunity to embrace conflict simply for conflict’s sake my more rational half (yes, I do have one of those) would win out. When life has reached 11 even a 9 seems muted, dull. What can I say.

To paraphrase Sun Tzu; the true warrior avoids conflict, and the fastest swords are seldom drawn. As it should be, I’m mostly content with a danger-free lifestyle and just because I enjoy adventure the discontent of others isn’t justified. Take what I have stated in my rambling utterances with a grain, if not handful, of salt.

In conclusion, I hope all the folks out at Quallcomm Stadium are safe, and that man wins the next round of this annual bout with minimal collateral damage or ill-effects towards those in the area.

Note: There will be hell to pay if I don’t get at least one ash-covered, gas mask adorned glory shot, Tom. So you best man up and produce the goods.

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