Luv2play

Gov. Newsom has just signed an executive order waiving all permitting regulations for rebuilding in the damaged zones. This is just the opposite of the Canadian approach of building better in disaster areas. We’ll see how that goes.

The fine is only $10,000 ( apart from a penal penalty) and I read of a case in the NYT today where someone jacked the monthly rent on a house in LA from $30,000 to over $50,000 a month as a result of the soaring demand from people being forced to relocate quickly. Apparently there are many in LA with the resources to pay.

I read about a woman who lost her trailer home in Pacific Palisades Park that was insured for $400, 000, including possessions. She said she intends to rebuild, despite having lost her home in the same park 2 decades ago in a similar fire. What she might not have thought about is that the next fire could be in 5 or 10 years given the acceleration of climate change.

Stunning.

He's been around a long time. Expat American in London. Never met him though so nothing to add.

Quoting from the NYT “measured against home values, insurance costs are cheaper in Palisades than in 97 percent of US postal codes.” There are a number of reasons for these low rates but I shouldn’t have cited low risk being one of them. The regulatory environment appears to have been the largest reason. Going forward it appears to me that high risk areas are no longer going to be shielded by rules that invite moral hazard. Of course billionaires can always self insure and don’t need insurance on their homes since they have no need of mortgages. It means though that communities such as Pacific Palisades won’t be the home to mere millionaires or those who are house poor.

I just read in the NYT that Californians pay the lowest insurance rates in the country, a median rate of $2,200 or thereabouts. In Pacific Palisades, it was $4,500 or thereabouts. (I'm recalling from memory) It also noted that many households had been dropped from private coverage in the last few years and were now covered by the more limited state insurance plan, which is also covered by the insurance industry. Obviously this fire is going to result in more losing coverage privately and probably sharply increased rates for those who can still get the private coverage. Re-insurers will see to that. I think this has implications for many other areas which up to now have been deemed low risk of wildfires such as Pacific Palisades.

Canada is also a large consumer of California fruits and vegetables. And our population now exceeds California’s, which I just saw from the population graph above.

That’s a good start.

I read recent that LA’s population was continuing to grow. Is that right? The state numbers may be hiding that.

I assume that the fire hydrants have little to no water because LA has been suffering an extreme drought for the last year. In contrast to the previous two years of extreme rainfalls. Unfortunately those two years only served to create lush vegetation which then dried out this past summer to create fuel for the wildfires. The fact remains southern California doesn’t have enough water for its still expanding population, which is putting additional stresses on the water system. With climate change proceeding apace, things are only likely to get worse. I’m not sure if anyone has a solution to the problem. Time will tell.

It is too early to know what caused these fires but one culprit appears to be power lines which blew down in the hours before the fires started. This I believe is what caused the fire in Maui. A lesson that might be learned is that these power lines need to be buried especially in residential areas and urban concentrations that are vulnerable to wildfires.

Although I live very far away in a different country and climate, southern California has always held a special attraction for me. My first visit was in 1980 and over the years I sampled its charms a dozen odd times. Wildfires have ravaged the state for many years but the one this time seems different. It has struck in the heart of LA and its coastal communities of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica and Ventura. Also other fires have struck other communities at the same time. In happier times I have been to the Getty Villa in Malibu, the Will Roger’s Beach at Santa Monica and driven along the Coastal Highway linking the beachfront communities. They are just memories now and I probably will never be back. Probably better that way.

The worst experience I had in 2024 was an overnight with a newbie. He had the right equipment and I thought we would be compatible. Also he had mostly good reviews. He was from the west coast and in town for half week. We enjoyed a pleasant dinner then repaired to his hotel room. He had no trouble getting hard but I quickly discovered he was a germophobe. Constantly asking me to wash my hands or take more mouthwash after sucking him. And he was very touchy especially with his dick but also on his body if I rubbed up against him. Being a touchy feelie person I ended up very frustrated. 😣

Spendthrifts may also offer different opinions.

None of them make hundreds of dollars an hour. I rarely tip myself unless something special deserves it.

I had never heard of him but think he is a deserving recipient. And what a hottie husband he has. Message has been edited. Please, keep your political opinions out of this thread. Thanks! 🙏

Well I took the place of Josh Moore under Barrett (Trev) back in 2021. That was before this film was made I believe. So I got to experience Trev’s charms at the beginning of his career. Nice to see he has done well. 🥳

There’s a great film of him with Josh Moore in another thread here today.

Be still, my heart. 😍

It appears the educational authorities in NSW have got it right. Their students will still be exposed to the essence of good literature, enough to whet their appetites for searching out the others.

I am not so vain that I would fly in my Lear jet to Nova Scotia or anywhere else to see a total eclipse of the sun. 🌞

The event got heavily rained on. Even thunder and lightning. A presage of the year to come??

This is a great idea. Time is passing and some of the people who have been referred to here are gone. It is a part of our collective gay culture and these stories need to be told. I am only sorry I can’t contribute as I never visited Numbers on my few visits to LA during its heyday.

I will always remember 2024 for the total eclipse of the sun. First time I experienced that and the last I am certain. Apart from that it was a memorable year for meeting some incredible men on RM. Hoping 2025 brings more of the same. Wishing you all the best. Luv2play