laffy4k's photo used through Creative Commons

With the possibility of downed power lines causing local power outages, drivers should use extreme caution when approaching darkened traffic signals. Whether driving on a main thoroughfare or a side street, motorists should treat all non-functioning traffic signals as a four way stop.

Pretty simple right? Sadly no. What would be a minor inconvenience in most cities is a mini-death-race-2000 in the Valley. If only anyone here knew how to treat a four-way stop, but they don’t. There are two possible approaches in the San Fernando Valley: 1.Muscle your way through with speed and aggression, or 2.Sit timidly at the light for far too long until the people behind you honk at you.

Seriously, at all five of the intersections with blackened traffic signals that I passed through tonight, anarchy reigned. The nearest thing I could figure is that Valley drivers only know how to deal with a traffic signal that is out when there is a white-gloved cop to wave cars through. Barring that, they just pretend there is a cop there and somewhat randomly drive through in spurts under the safety-in-numbers theory of traffic. So, in the interests of my own personal well being as well as the safety of all of my fellow Angelenos, I offer you the rules of the road. Please read if you are uncertain. This has been a public service announcement.

And if you’re hungry for more Brit films with fog, the double feature on Halloween looks promising: The City of the Dead and The Skull. Satanic conspiracies, Marquis de Sade’s skull, witch burnings…what more do you need for a happy Halloween?

On October 13 at the Skirball, WIT and Hazelden present Chasing the Muse (when you are stone cold sober). Hosted by William Cope Moyers, with filmmaker actress/singer Katey Sagal; writer/creator of Sons of Anarchy, Kurt Sutter; novelist Michelle Huneven; and journalist/author Mark Ebner, the conversation will range from sources of inspiration to the role of recovery in the creative process. Ray Bradbury once said “You must stay drunk on writing so reality doesn’t destroy you.” Yes, but how?

The panel is $25 and you can register online here.

And there is a dessert reception afterward because inspiration is even better when followed by dessert.

The fair is a treasure trove of the outsized and grotesque. What better king than King Taco?

There are lots of giant things at the fair like this ant.

The fair has lots of fried things. I had the deep fried oreos, a near religious experience.

And there are games.

And shopping opportunities.

Did I mention the grotesque?

Truly the pictures can’t even capture the iceberg tip of badly tattooed, pudgy Americana shopping for Dodger themed caskets while munching on food on a stick. If Fellini had been born in the US, I am convinced he would have set at least one movie at the county fair. Go now.

Get details on the show and purchase tickets here.

Theresa Thompson's picture used through Creative Commons

Tammara inspired me to chime in about the election for the 2nd District City Council seat, not because I favor her candidate so much (I don’t–I think I’m for Sanchez, myself) but because it is an important election and I know the turn out will be low and that always makes me sad. Here’s how the City Clerk’s site explains the job of the city council:

The Council is the governing body of the City, except as otherwise provided in the Charter, and enacts ordinances subject to the approval or veto of the Mayor. It orders elections, levies taxes, authorizes public improvements, approves contracts, and adopts traffic regulations. The Council adopts or modifies the budget proposed by the Mayor and provides the necessary funds, equipment, and supplies for the budgetary departments. The Council confirms or rejects appointments proposed by the Mayor and prescribes duties of boards and officers not defined by Charter.

It’s the governing body of the city, people, and this is one of only 15 seats. If you’re in district 2, take a minute to look over the candidate information on the League of Women Voters; Smart Voter site. There’s also a lot of good information and links on the CD2 Special Election Blog.

I’ll call myself out and confess that I almost always wait until the night before to figure out elections, so if you haven’t been following this ten-candidate race, know that it’s not too late. You’ll be cramming along with at least one Metblog author.

There are three big money candidates in this election (relatively speaking) and seven others who are billing themselves variously as “grassroots” or “activist” by virtue of comparison (see the LA Weekly blog for implications). And so people like me get glossy mailings from three candidates and, in order to find out about the other seven, we have to do a little research. Please do.

Station Fire photo by Brittany Bagheri and American Red Cross

People who live with fires think a great deal about what will happen “when,” as the phrase goes in the instruction leaflets, “the fire comes.” These leaflets, which are stuck up on refrigerator doors all over Los Angeles County, never say “if.” When the fire comes there will be no water pressure. The roof one watered all the night before will go dry in seconds. Plastic trash cans must be filled with water and wet gunny-sacks kept at hand, for smothering the sparks that blow ahead of the fire. The garden hoses must be connected and left where they can be seen. The cars must be placed in the driveway headed out. Whatever one wants most to save must be placed in the cars. The lights must be left on, so that the house can be seen in the smoke.

That’s from Didion’s essay “Fire Season.” You can get it here