It's wildfire season again in Southern California - and the latest round of brutal blazes took its toll on the well-to-do and working class alike!
Let's take a look at just how deadly wildfires can be - and how easily they can get out of control. In this case, a mobile home park - as well as one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in So Cal - was equally devastated. Montecito, near Santa Barbara north of Los Angeles, was named as the seventh most expensive neighbourhood in America by Forbes magazine, with an average home price of 2.9 million dollars. The community contains hundreds of lavish estates belonging to the likes of Oprah Winfrey, "Monty Python" comedian John Cleese, actor Michael Douglas and other big-time celebrities with more money than they know what to do with.
And all it took was the aftermath of an all-night college party to take down dozens of those magnificent mansions.
Some local students got together at a nearby abandoned home on a hillside one night - and built a bonfire that burned into the early morning hours. They finally put it out and went home - but the fire wasn't ready to call it a night. Conditions were so dry that the blaze reignited and continued to burn all day - and then powerful evening gusts that the locals call "sundowners" spread the wildfire everywhere despite fire fighters' best efforts.
Everyone's survival was at stake. That meant the stars were forced to evacuate their homes just like anyone else would have been. Maybe they had chauffeurs to drive them out of disaster, but otherwise, they were just as terrified as you or I would have been. Take popular TV and movie star Rob Lowe. His relaxing day had a very rude interruption, according to a report from the Associated Press.
"I was watching the football game with my son and my wife called and said 'Montecito's on fire - get out!',' said Rob. "I thought she was kidding because there was no indication that there would be any problem whatsoever. But we got in the car, pulled out of the driveway and the entire mountain behind us was in flames."
Meanwhile, at a different place where you probably wouldn't find a guy like Rob Lowe hanging out, another deadly wildfire took its toll - in a San Fernando Valley motor home park that was actually very special to Los Angeles County Fire Captain David Yonan. He had lived there for two of what he called the happiest years of his life with his ex-wife.
After battling wildfires in another area all night, Yonan was ready to go home - then one of his former neighbors called him and begged him to come help at the motor home park - where high winds were driving an incredibly destructive inferno.
Yonan went "rogue," immediately taking his fire fighting team over there before getting permission from the higher-ups. He turned out to be a hero, saving 131 of the motor homes, despite gusts of up to 70 mph. One of those homes belonged to his ex-wife - who gave him a big teary-eyed "thank you." Maybe that will get his alimony reduced!
Wildfires, especially in areas like Southern California where hot, dry conditions and desert winds combine to create disaster, are fast-moving and deadly - and knowing how to prepare for them. I strongly advise you to find out the wildfire dangers of the area you live in - rich or poor.
Copyright (c) 2008 Mr. Prepared
Have you ever heard of the phrase that the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Well, many people think that it is obvious because when you are born rich, you have all the money to go to the best schools, the money will allow you to continue to start companies that will make you rich, or simply that you will just inherit the money and continue to be rich for the matter.
Well, this is true in some cases. The main reason why children of wealthy parents tend to continue to be wealthy is because they inherit the beliefs that support wealth. And they inherit these beliefs of wealth from their parents and their relatives. They believe that it is a normal to run a company, to go to college and to make a half of million a year and drive a Mercedes Benz. They know it is possible because they see the people around them doing it.
On the other hand, many people who are born in poor families adopt beliefs of the poor. What they see around them become their role models, their parents and their relatives. They see their friends, they see their parents earning low wages and in lower income positions and struggling to get by every single month.
So, after a while, they start to believe that, that is their reality. These beliefs limit their dreams and their actions. They do not dare to go beyond what they see around them.
One example here happened during a training session with a student from a government school.
There was a student who did not set a goal to get a university degree. So when I asked him, Why do not you want to go to college? Why do not you want to get a degree? You know, he told me that no body in his family can study and that no body has ever made it pass their 'O' level exams in his family.
And there are many cases where many people who are born into poor families eventually break out of the cycle of poverty and become extremely successful and wealthy.
It is because along the way, they had managed to meet powerful role models that gave them the beliefs of possibility that brought them out of their little world they were living in.
By adopting the beliefs and mindset of empowering role models, we can change our financial status, environment, results and destiny.
Both Larry Frank & Adam Khoo are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Larry Frank has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Health and Family. Mr. Prepared is the alter ego of Larry Frank, a self-described, "preparedness junkie." MrPrepared.com is a website dedicated to teaching people of all ages how to be better prepared and serves as a central outlet where visitors can get all of the supplies. Larry Frank's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Adam Khoo has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Web Development and Computers and The Internet. Adam Khoo is an entrepreneur, best-selling author and a self-made millionaire by the age of 26. Discover his million dollar secrets and claim your FREE bonus report 'Ultimate Success Formula' at. Adam Khoo's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.