SCOOTIN' ALONG -- CALIF. FIRES -- ELDER SAFETY

The good news is California fires are gradually coming under control.   A fire recently started  east of where I live, is being contained.    Our area has not been subjected to any fire, smoke or ashes – our skies continuing to be blue. 

Federal emergency aid has been granted by our President, as he made a visit to some of the areas including that of the Thousand Oaks shooting massacre which had coincidentally occurred prior to the fires.  Meeting with our Governor Brown and newly elected Governor Newsom he expressed words of concern as could be expected to be forthcoming from any responsible leader of our nation in such a disaster. 

The President’s broad knowledge of the factors involved in these fires’ propagation appears to be rather narrow, to put it kindly, as he persists in blaming poor forest management as the problem.   There was reported HERE  “...a protester along the route of the president’s motorcade who held a sign that said, “Moron, we’re in a drought.”

I suppose our officials must use care to not antagonize a President some believe to be vindictive to those who don’t agree with him lest our residents not receive all the assistance needed.   California has primarily supported candidates with views other than those of the current federal administration, but that has become even more pronounced with the results of the recent elections.  

Very large Orange County has been known many years as a stronghold for the President’s political party.  Midterm elections altered that as all four House seats in Orange country – Richard Nixon’s birthplace and that of conservatism – now belong to the new House of Representatives predominant party.   

My friends’ family members here in Southern California had to evacuate but were fortunate to stay with other family until they could return to, thankfully, find their homes still standing, unlike some others in their areas, or in additional communities including Malibu near the Pacific Ocean. 

In Northern California a town ironically named Paradise, population over 26,000, burned to the ground.   Known as a retirement haven, tragically at this writing over 600 residents are still missing – whether they are in safe locations or are fire victims has yet to be established. 

Safety for older folks.....

There has been some concern that lives lost not only there, but in other areas, too, may have included an inordinate number of older people – some unwilling to leave soon enough, others unable to evacuate as rapidly as needed.   Likely this issue will be, or should be, examined in the weeks ahead.   

Data from 2017 fires concluded older people are at greater risk in disasters.  It should give us all thought that when the potential for safety concerns emerges, older and disabled folks should be among the first to act promptly, to not wait or try to be heroes – concentrating on saving ourselves could be the best way to aid our loved ones and those who would want to help us. 

Wildlife has not been spared as their habitat is destroyed including our mountain lions HERE and a heart-warming story about a rescued horse/mule.

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A couple updates:

My California I.D. card that serves as my driver’s license for the next five years arrived with my photo quite acceptable unlike the one on the new regular license initially issued.   Card photos quality was a subject I had previously posed recently for comment HERE.

Daylight Savings Time will hopefully be ended in California based on voters choice in our recent election.   There is still some uncertainty about voters choice being implemented though the California State Legislature now has the power to vote to change the clocks permanently with a two-thirds majority vote.  Even then the time change still has to to receive U.S. Congress approval.    

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SCOOTIN’ ALONG .....

Green transportation in California and in other cities across our country has been gaining increasing interest in recent years.  I’ve been noticing a few unusual vehicles in my community and Los Angeles TV news stories cause me to wonder if such vehicles/devices actual usage is becoming more prevalent. 

Electric scooters are being introduced by companies into prominent cities across our country creating quite a bit of controversy.  There are companies that distribute them around some city areas for individuals to use at will – riding them to their local destination, then just leaving them.  City governments often haven’t been given an opportunity to establish operation requirements they can then also enforce with licensing.   Many pros and cons are being debated about whether or not to allow these scooters, safety issues, to name just a couple.  

U.S. News reports:  

“...the first company to launch shared electric scooters in the United States, unrolled its first fleet – or flock – in Santa Monica last September. Their scooters have since appeared in some 70 municipalities across the country, including 17 in California, as well as Paris and Tel Aviv and dozens of college campuses." "... the biggest of a dozen or more competitors, has landed in more than 80 American municipalities.”

What do you think about electric scooters?  Have you encountered any?   Would you use them?