MNMN: January 2025 "Not On Fire" Edition
tl;dr: I'm not on fire! Places to support those who have been displaced by the LA fires followed by the rest of the usual nonsense within
Hi, everyone! Putting the Nearly Monthly News out early this month to reassure anyone watching coverage of the L.A. county fires that I am safe, well, and sheltered. We're not out of the woods yet (metaphorically, that is; we are staying well clear of the literal woods these days), but fire crews continue to make good progress, and I'm prepared to get out in a hurry if I have to.
As the immediate danger dies down, recovery will be a very long process. If you'd like to help those directly affected, Charity Navigator has a vetted list of organizations providing immediate and direct relief.
Altadena was particularly devastated by the Eaton fire. I know and know of many people who have been displaced or lost their homes. The city also has a legacy as a multi-cultural neighborhood due to red-lining in other parts of L.A. County. To help preserve that, supporters have compiled a directory of GoFundMe campaigns for displaced Black families (which also has links to Latine and Filipino families, as well as displaced disabled folks).
Cartoon Brew has linked to fundraisers for animation workers who have been displaced by the Eaton Fire.
If you’re not in a position to donate, or even if you are, I will ask one favor of you. No matter where you are reading this, take an hour two so this holiday weekend to update your emergency plans.
I did two weeks of Community Emergency Response Team training in early 2020 (until we were interrupted by the pandemic) but the big takeaway I got from those sessions was that emergency readiness is is a process. Keep bottled water, cash in small bills, and shelf-stable pantry items on hand all the time. Know how to quickly lay hands on the important documents you'd want to grab if you have five minutes warning to evacuate. Have digital copies of those documents with someone you trust who doesn't live locally in case you don't have those five minutes, or you're away from home when disaster strikes.
I carry a small first aid kit, a flashlight, a whistle and other emergency items in my purse at all times, and more than once something in my kit has come in handy. There are water bottles and emergency snacks in the trunk of my car, not just in case “the big one” hits, but because: “Sometimes the emergency is that I want Fritos.”
Studies show that if you're used to using your supplies on an everyday basis, you're more likely to remember you have them when an emergency strikes.
That said, did I find four-year-old energy bars in my go bag when the fires broke out last week? Of course I did. But now that I've found them, they've been replaced.
Preparedness is a work in progress. And whether you're being menaced this month by fire or ice, take this as your friendly reminder to check the batteries in your flashlights.
From My Desk
One helpful distraction this month has been going back to work on an animated series! Details are still under NDA, but I look forward to sharing more when I can.
Given the pace of animation production, prepare to be excited in 2-3 years. headdesk
What I'm Reading and Watching
Like everyone else in Los Angeles, Watch Duty has rocketed to the top of my "frequently used apps" list. They’re a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides updates on local wildfires from vetted and verified sources. All emergency info is available in the free version, but I’ve signed up for a subscription to help make sure they're around for the next disaster.
On a lighter note, looking for a distraction from current events (but not feeling quite ready to leave the house and silence my phone for two hours; good thing I saw The Brutalist before the fires broke out!), I just watched Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Like most Americans, I was introduced to the iconic cheese-loving duo when I saw a clip of the iconic train chase scene from “The Wrong Trousers” during the 1993 Oscar broadcast. From then on, I was hooked.
Overall, I tend to enjoy Aardman Animation's shorts more than their feature-length outings, but this one is a cracker from top to bottom, without feeling frenetic or padded out. Currently streaming on Netflix in the US.
From the Cutting Room Floor of the Duolingo Dystopia
So, how's your year going so far, Bea?
Yeah, that checks out.
And That's the Nearly Monthly News!
Thank you to everyone who reached out to see if I was okay, and also to everyone who elected to pester my mother or stalk my social media instead. My part of the city has been safe so far, but if anything changes in my personal situation, I'll do my best to get the word out. Questions? Comments? Drop me a line! Otherwise, I'll see you next month.