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The Southern California fires, they're certainly hell to the North, East and South of me. There was possible evacuation in my area late Sunday while I slept soundly and I woke Monday morning to that news and the wonder as to what would have happened had the evacuation occured and I'd missed it. Maybe not been able to write this, but thank our good God that I am and that no cause for evacuation occured here -- it's certainly been necessary in the entire region in all directions around where I'm located, except out to sea. And in several areas around me, the fires are growing worse.

The air quality is very poor and any length of time outside is not a breathable experience. It's dark now just after midnight and the moon is visible overhead but it's dark orange, obviously discolored in view by the thick smokey atmosphere, and the Santa Ana winds are still blowing but somewhat tamer tonight than they have been throughout the past weekend -- the culprit as to the damaging flames everywhere, along with arson, which I heard yesterday evening from the County Sheriff was the likely source of the Orange County and San Diego fire outbreaks. Can't argue causes when everything's burning, though, just have to put the fires out and then do something about why they started afterward.

Amidst the smoke and unbreathable air outside, I cleared overhanging patio brush yesterday morning and watered everything outofdoors and nearby down well and also cleared out the rain gutters that had accumulated a lot of dried leaf and twig residue from the increasing Santa Ana winds that preceded and then perpetuated the fire outbreaks; the power was out this afternoon and I was well prepared with a lot of extra batteries and everything else but my inconveniences are minor compared to many in the entire region. I'm fortunate to have HEPA air cleaners in the house and central air conditioning, so both before the power was out and afterward, of course, I've been able to keep my indoor air breathable. Like I said, outside ventures have to be limited -- because the air here looks like the Mars atmosphere and breaths better but after a while outofdoors, I find myself wondering about that last part.

Later yesterday, I watched live film footage of past homes in Malibu burn, homes of a few friends past and present burn there, too, and said my prayers for everyone, including me, but especially for the firefighters. One home where I'd lived at one time in Malibu burned down to cinders and a concrete slab foundation after I'd moved away in one of the fires years ago that ravaged Malibu and after I viewed that from a different part of the country as it happened, I decided I'd had enough of the area: it's beautiful but so was Pompeii, or so it's said.

With all the complaints about California, when emergencies such as these occur, Californians know how to evacuate when told to, complete with families and pets in tow -- and keep a sense of humor while helping everyone and anyone else as needed. It's a site to behold how people here get moving when they have to, how quickly and efficiently they get going. Shelters welcome pets, horses and other large animals are also welcomed at special facilities for these very emergencies and families don't dwell before leaving on anything other than insurance, mortgage, bank and identity documents, while giving priority to getting in gear as quickly as possible with the family and animals, the most important passengers first. There have been school buses at the immediate ready for hospitals, nursing homes and schools and even prisoners were transferred very quickly over the weekend in Irvine. So there's a sense of intuitive and immediate organization here that does put a lot of recent chaos in other parts of the nation to shame. All except the fires themselves: utterly brutal, chaotic, unpredictable in the winds and exceptionally dry environment.

HERE ARE some captivating photos (see VIEWER IMAGES, all Parts) of the fires to the North of me (Malibu, Ventura County, Santa Barbara) and to the Northeast of me (Arrowhead and North Irvine), and, many very sad images from the devastation occuring as I write this to the Southeast of me (San Diego, county-wide) -- these many images tell the story far better than any words can. San Diego has by far been hit the hardest by the fires this weekend and it continues this night and morning -- the damage in Malibu, although terrible, is far less than what San Diego is dealing with -- a firefighter says San Diego is "like Armageddon."

INTERACTIVE MAP of Southern California fires - you have to move it around to see the massive scope of the problem, all of which continue this night/morning in only partial containment.

I read this story ("MONKEYS PLAGUE PUERTO RICO") (use bugmenot.com if need be) and when I got to this part, I took pause:

"Emma Vasquez, who lives (nearby to the monkeys' habitat), said a baby monkey once jumped from a tree onto her roof...'At first we all thought it was cute,' Vasquez, 60, said. 'Then it started tipping over all of my plants in the balcony, and growling at me.'"

I once lived next door to -- unfortunately -- a human being who did the very same thing. I'm just saying, it's not behavior limited to "monkeys" but it sure is monkey behavior.

I read this story ("WHITE HOUSE FORMS COALITION TO SELL OPEN BORDERS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC"), and I wondered how much more monkeying the American public has to take about immigration and border security. I'd feel far less suspicious if President Bush had ever or would ever just explain what his position is about border security (or lack thereof) but because he's padding whatever his non-disclosed position is, I'm now thinking it's a good indication that he's not confident that his position is something most Americans will agree with. Thus, another "Coalition" forms.

I voted for President Bush, and I'm not considering changing political party registration (again) from Republican to Democrat (briefly registered as a Democrat until a few years ago, after a life-long registration as a Republican, explained on this site while approaching last year's Presidential election), but, I am this day and recently taking pause as to Bush's remarks about "vigilantes" in reference to the Minuteman Project, Bush's intentions, from what he has revealed about his intentions, that "guest workers" are needed in the U.S. "to do the work that Americans won't do," among a number of other things related to illegal immigration and our border security/insecurity issues.

Like the rest of us voters, I am in a "wait and see" position here but that another "Coalition" is now being formed to "sell (President Bush's) guest worker program" seems a portent of two things: (1.) President Bush isn't being candid with the American people about immigration and border security issues, and (2.) neither is Congress (I don't hear/read an uproar about this, as I do about, say, Bolton's nomination and CAFTA and Medicare and more).

Voters, the overwhelming number of us, from what I've read, want far more effective enforcement on immigration legislation -- if not just enforce existing legislation for starters -- and we don't support or want "guest worker" programs of any kind. The very notion exudes portent of increased illegal immigration. I can't believe that President Bush is so naive as to believe a guest worker program would be a solution to border security, so he has to be underestimating the reasoning and intelligence of others because this makes no sense to me:

From an interview with President Bush in July 2005:

"On immigration reform, the president said he hopes to resolve differences with members of the Senate who are pushing for a more lenient law for illegal immigrants seeking work in the United States.

"'This should not be an amnesty program,' he said.

"Bush's plan would provide temporary visas to guest workers. They would have to leave afterward, and program participants would get no special consideration when they apply for legal residence.

"'It's very important for the American people to know immigration reform will be done with a border security initiative that makes it clear to the people that we will do everything we can to stop illegal people from coming into our country,' Bush said.

"He said a well-run guest worker program would help border security by taking pressure off the Border Patrol. If those who wish to enter the country to work can do so legally, he reasoned, fewer will try to infiltrate the border secretly.

"Flush from the series of legislative successes last week, the president expressed confidence that he can cut through strong, opposing political feelings on immigration and come out with a bill.

"'I think there is broad agreement that the system is not working,' Bush said. 'It's a very important issue and it's an issue that we've got to get right.'"

Well, yes, it's a broken system and yes, it's not working but expecting any greater efficiency and function by these suggested means is foolish. Why not enforce the laws we have? Not being enforced, and even more likely to not be enforced with more illegal immigration, greater numbers arriving for even more lax labor requirements. With even more rewards, no less!

The point is that after a point of life experience, most of us learn to stop trying things that result badly. This reasoning by President Bush, in all due respect, about this issue seems to communicate the intent to persist in pursuing something already proven to result badly.

In all due respect.

Employers who employ illegal immigrants need to be penalized effectively to make ongoing violations of labor laws a non-rewarding process. If individual citizens violate laws (any laws), we face fines and sometimes incarceration (and should, depending). If employers violate labor laws and employ illegal immigrants, fail to verify identification documents, all of that, they get the promise of more illegal immigrants with the federal government's help, at least as to a promise of "guest workers".

Guest worker programs will only provide greater incentive for more illegal immigration. Perhaps that's what Bush wants, I just don't know, but all I can share here is that it isn't what I want for the United States. The country deserves better. Citizens deserve better.

Just look at the mayhem we already have, and how we aren't dealing with that -- but repairable, fixable, possible to remedy in keeping with our existing laws, mostly. That there is serious consideration of not only not enforcing existing laws but supplanting them with 'extra helps' to violate the laws is not a very good indication of common sense, much less responsible leadership. Smashing things up because it's frustrating otherwise is just monkey business.

In all due respect.

I've today got a computer on a desk, the linens and kitchen unpacked and a few pathways arranged between boxes to and from key areas -- the desk among those -- and will update BIRD tomorrow.

One week away from the internet and already I've gone woolly. One more night of rest and a day for errands tomorrow and things should be right again. Not like the world went silent while I was; there's much to blog about.