Japan warning

Civil defense siren at King and Western...

We're relieved to hear that our friends in Japan are safe.

But now with the red-alert nuclear reactor meltdown threats over there, the news that Southern California's San Onofre nuclear plant can only withstand up to a 7.0 earthquake is kinda disconcerting. I'm not an alarmist, but this little factoid is giving me pause...

Crazy walk: 8th Street/Gregory Way

With EzraPounded on her way to Dixie, I decided to take a journey of my own...a walk west from Downtown Los Angeles to Century City. I may be sunburned and my feet tired after the 11-mile excursion down 8th Street, Gregory Way, and a few turnouts, but I enjoyed the day and I'm looking forward to my next cross-town amble. Some highlights...

A production crew filming an urban beach scene...

Another civil defense siren...

Proof that the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power is "A Good Neighbor"...

A Nuclear Free Zone...I'll head straight there if I ever hear that civil defense siren...

Some cool Churrigueresque architecture...

If the seller would only make an educated sign, some educated offers might come in...

A tricked out bench at Los Angeles High Memorial Park...

A garage door leading to a driveway leading to a garage with no garage door...

Live turtles (really) at Wilshire Green Park...

A sculpture from 1925 of Daniel McCarthy, who "helped preserve California to the Union," according to the plaque...

A Kenny G CD on the sidewalk in Beverly Hills...I feel bad now for not trying to track down the owner, surely distraught...

I was laughing too hard to get a picture, but the funniest thing I saw on this walk was in Beverly Hills just short of Century City. A group of loudmouth teenagers on bikes rode past me at a decent speed, and tailing them on foot was their buddy yelling, "Guys, wait up! Wait up, guys!" What happened to his bike? Does he always run after the rest of the clowns? Maybe I sound like a jerk for laughing, but seriously, it was a funny sight.

This is a test

I'm old enough to remember the Cold War. Although I'm too young to have lived through drop-and-cover nuclear attack drills at school...we only practiced for earthquakes...I do remember the occasional test blare of civil defense sirens.

Those things could wail. If anyone reading this is familiar with San Jose, I went to Sylvandale Jr. High, and the nearest siren tower was near the corner of Capitol and Senter...about a half-mile away. No ducking or covering followed...only teachers pointing out the obvious. "There they go again!"

I'm certain most cities have yanked out their sirens, but they're still hanging on in Los Angeles. In fact, one still lingers in front of City Hall. Why haven't they been removed? Indifference? Cheaper to just keep them rusting? Saving them for the next menace?