or the sky begins in Venice–there’s so much smoke downwind from Malibu. The horizon looks like a huge gray minimalist canvas. The Southland is ablaze again– as expected after a winter of no rain. The devastation is on a catastrophic level. I can’t understand the sick pleasure that motivates pyromaniacs: they are beyond my comprehension! One arsonist was already shot & killed  and more remain at large. Some years ago, several major fires here were set by an arsonist who had been a firefighter!!!

Amazingly, Pavarotti died with massive debt– around $25,000,000, they say. Assets,pls?

The Santa Ana devil winds were blowing in the nite. No rain last winter–never rain in the summer–the parched chaparral in the hills along PCH is tinder.

1. WOW–the bombing & riots in Pakistan! Benazir Bhutto has real guts-you know her father & brother were assassinated. A big majority supports this WOMAN & her pro-Western, anti-terrorist views!!!!

2. A RECENT TEST AT LAX: 75% of the screeners involved PASSED DECOYS thru security–carrying faux bomb-making materials. THIS DOESN’T SHOCK ME !!!!

3.Went to the great Paul Smith store on Melrose (down the street from TOMMY PERSE’S notable emporium!) where talented Bryan Rabin transformed the parking lot into a deluxe tree-lined screening room. We couldn’t resist shopping. A beautiful men’s velvet jacket was purchased & I got a giant green plastic cactus, an art piece created from Gufram  from 1971 (I had been dreaming of it for years & about blue Yves Kleins, too). I love the delicious Paul Smith Rose scent–my new fave.
The movie was the outrageous Brit cult fick, Withnail & I, (1987). I had never seen it, but heard about the legendary performance of Richard E. Grant. It was really something & so was Bruce Robinson’s terrific work as writer & director. Many thanks, Paul Smith!

took my car for a spin on Sat. There was almost no traffic on the winding mountain road.The day was perfect for me: 66 degrees, dull blue sky w/ patches of storm clouds. Sealed in the tiny cockpit-like cabin w/ the incredible Mark Levinson sound system blaring the late, great Luciano Pavarotti was, ah, sublime.