Fire Updates, Ann Coulter Coming to USC?!?

The sky is far smokier-looking than yesterday at this time, here in West LA but still no fires in the immediate area and no sign of a wind shift. The map from yesterday’s post is still being updated live by LA Times and presents a good picture of things. I’ve also posted a few stories of interest on LAist. Click to read:

Fire Evacuees are Not ‘Refugees’
Ann Coulter to Speak at USC for Islamo-Fascism Wingnut Awareness Week
Larry Himmel Reports from the Scene of his Burning Home

Viss has some amazing photos of the Witch Fire here.

LA Times Creates Google Map for California Fire Storm ’07

Updated links to media/official/citizen coverage of the fires below.

I’ve messed with numerous mapping applications — namely Mapbuilder and Platial and none are as effective, easy to maintain / update and share as this map tracking the ongoing fires in Southern California. Nice one, Times.

Map Updated 10/29

View Larger Map


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For more fire coverage: CBS2/KCAL9 has multiple live video feeds available here, ABC7 is live here. KNX 1070 is doing a commendable job, covering this story like the natural catastrophe that it is playing out to be and knowing, ala Katrina, that while many may lose power and/or have to leave their homes, they still could have access to radio. Several KNX reporters have been on the story for over 24 hours straight now, and they’ve been broadcasting commercial-free since the story broke early Sunday. Listen in here.

SignOnSanDiego is also in breaking coverage mode via their text-only Fire Blog updates. With up to a quarter million people already being evacuated from areas of San Diego County it’s possible Qualcomm Stadium could be very reminiscent of the Superdome staging area (except of course that it’s not covered and the weather ain’t nearly that bad, save for the smoke in the air).

Also, LA City Fire Department is now live with its long-incubating real-time alerts feed. Subscribe via e-mail or Twitter. For very regular updates from San Diego to your mobile device, follow Nate Ritter.

Below, The Daily news‘ less-detailed Google Map focusing on Los Angeles and the Valley and a real-time slideshow of the more incredible photos documenting the fires via flickr:
Continue reading “LA Times Creates Google Map for California Fire Storm ’07”

Colbert: Mo Betta Than Dowd

Just when you’re so tired of reading Maureen Dowd’s whiny, sassy scribblings, she saves the day by handing her column off to Stephen Colbert, who is busy getting as much ink and face-time as possible in the wake of the release of his book. (Last year, Dowd, penned a Rolling Stone cover story on the Colbert/Stewart phenomenon)

So leave it to Colbert, to sum up the entire NYT Sunday Op-Ed experience in under 100 words:

I’d like to thank Maureen Dowd for permitting/begging me to write her column today. As I type this, she’s watching from an overstuffed divan, petting her prize Abyssinian and sipping a Dirty Cosmotinijito. Which reminds me: Before I get started, I have to take care of one other bit of business:

Bad things are happening in countries you shouldn’t have to think about. It’s all George Bush’s fault, the vice president is Satan, and God is gay.

There. Now I’ve written Frank Rich’s column too.

Hilarious. Lo, Rich’s Op-Ed today on the shadiness pervading Iraq — still — unbelievable — is a must read, as his columns generally are. As for Colbert’s “new bestseller,” I am America (And So Can You)!, I have absolutely no intention of reading it. I have, however, obtained the audio version — narrated by Colbert, of course — to listen to on an upcoming road trip (road trip tbd). I’ve listened to the introduction, though, and so far, so good. Time permitting, I’ll post a snippet for your aural pleasure.

Earlier in the week he admitted to Larry King that the book was a tool leading up to his seeking of a presidential nomination “from both parties.” (Video here and below). Continue reading “Colbert: Mo Betta Than Dowd”