Monday, August 31, 2009

Fires Near Los Angeles...

Looking at the fire maps (from two different tools below; click to enlarge) reminds us of the fires here in San Diego County in October 2007. Sends shivers down our spines.

Both of these maps are derived from satellite-based thermal imagery.

The good news is that so far the fires haven't massively invaded areas with homes, as they did here. And we are not having a Santa Ana wind storm, so there's some hope that the firefighters can get it under control.

We send our best wishes and hopes their way...

Oh, Jeez...

There's something particularly disgusting and disturbing about a government that trades its first responsibility – protecting its citizens – for money. It appears that this is exactly what the British government has done (via the London Times):
The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.
I first heard rumors about this a few days ago, but dismissed them...saying to myself “Nah – the Brits would never do that!”

Evidence suggests that I was wrong, dang it.