Richard V. Rupp

January 15, 2025

I'm novelist Richard V. Rupp, writing to you from Burbank, California – "Media Capital of the World."

 

Welcome to my monthly newsletter, published on the third Wednesday of each month.

 

My heart is heavy as I write this Newsletter. Over the past few days, I have looked out my window and stared at a smoky, ash-filled sky. I live in Southern California, which continues to be devastated by ravaging wildfires. I have been fortunate as Burbank, where I live, has been spared, the crisis affecting thousands and covering nearly 40,000 acres in the nearby communities of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Brentwood, Encino, Westwood, Altadena, Pasadena, and San Fernando. Pictures of the devastation show unbelievable damage. You can stand in the middle of what was a major intersection and look for blocks of blackened debris dotted with melted vehicles, lonely chimney stacks, charred trees, and smoldering rubble.

 

The NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE released an unprecedented fourth "particularly dangerous situation" fire weather warning yesterday morning, and it is expected to last through today. Will we ever see this unusual wind event and wildfire end? Or is this the "New Normal?"

 

I had hoped to get a respite from what was happening by watching a football game. But the fact that the game had to be moved to Arizona, that the opening ceremonies had a period of silence for those suffering in Los Angeles, and that the opening ceremonies referred to the wildfires continued to remind me of what was happening. Then the game started. Bless you, LOS ANGELES RAMS, for dominating the MINNESOTA VIKINGS. My RAMS' unbelievable play totally took my mind off what was happening around me.

 

NOT A GOOD START

 

I was looking forward to 2025, believing it had to be better than what we had faced in 2024. That thought quickly disappeared as it started with a pair of New Year's Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas that took multiple lives and injured dozens. Then the Southern California wildfire came that, as of today, has cost 25 lives and destroyed or heavily damaged 12,300 structures, including homes, businesses, and public buildings. Early estimates suggest the combined fires could be the costliest in US history. It is estimated that the insured losses could be up to $30 billion. Total losses are estimated at $135 billion to $150 billion.

 

Who knows what the economic loss will be for the area? But I have noted mention of something that could affect me - Increased Rent. With thousands of people displaced from their homes and apartments for years until the destroyed and damaged structures can be replaced, rental properties will be at a premium. Here's a bulletin I received from the CITY OF BURBANK yesterday – "Please be advised, the City has begun to receive complaints and concerns regarding price gouging, specifically rental rate gouging, since the ongoing natural disasters began Tuesday within the region." 

 

Before we are even a month into 2025, there is no question it will be classified as a disastrous year.

The events that have occurred thus far reflect a changing world and a "new norm" that we don't want to think about but must face. The novel I've been working on for far too long is titled SKYWARD – The Earth has an expiration date. The recent events reflect why I started writing SKYWARD. We are in the midst of a social change that has turned groups of people (tribes) against each other. And we are in the midst of climate change that has turned our landscape against human habitation.

 

My research and guts tell me things will not change for the better. Overpopulation and migration are going to continue, causing conflict over territory. There is going to be greater strife between the "haves" and the "have-nots." Economics is going to increase, not reduce, the use of fossil fuels, and birth rates for the educated populations will continue to decline while those for the uneducated populations will continue to expand.

 

Historically, humans have mastered adaptation to all kinds of problems. This "new normal" will produce major challenges for us, the likes of which we have never experienced before. My mind can't conceive what the answers will be. But I'm betting they will include AI, robotics, and going SKYWARD. We need to move humans from Earth to space colonies and other planets and harvest and return minerals from meteorites to Earth to lengthen the time humans can inhabit the Earth. But yes, there is an "expiration date."

 

THE FUTURE

 

Here is what MICROSOFT COPILOT has to say about my comments above –

 

"Historically, humans have mastered adaptation to all kinds of problems. This "new normal" will produce major challenges for us, the likes of which we have never experienced before. My mind can't conceive what the answers will be. But I'm betting they will include AI, robotics, and going SKYWARD. We need to move humans from Earth to space colonies and other planets and harvest and return minerals from meteorites to Earth to lengthen the time humans can inhabit the Earth. But yes, there is an "expiration date."

It's fascinating to think about the futuristic solutions humans will come up with to tackle the challenges of the new normal!

 

AI and robotics have already begun transforming our society, and their roles will only expand. Advanced AI systems can optimize resource use, predict and solve problems, and even develop new technologies. Robotics can help with everything from precision farming to advanced medical treatments.

Moving humans to space colonies and other planets is an exciting yet complex endeavor. Projects like Mars colonization and space habitat research by organizations like SpaceX and Blue Origin are already in progress. Moreover, harvesting minerals from meteorites for resources has been theorized as a solution to Earth's diminishing supplies.

 

While we may face an "expiration date" on Earth, human ingenuity and adaptability have always driven us to explore new frontiers and find innovative solutions. Given the progress we're seeing, the sky might not even be the limit!"

 

My question is, what new innovations we will see as the "New Los Angeles" is reconstructed?

 

MY TOWN

 

"You say that you're scouting a location for a new apocalyptic movie."

 

"Yep. Look at these storyboards."

 

"Wow. I know the perfect location for you. It's called Los Angeles."

 

Many of the streets in the communities around me are known to millions of people around the world because they have been used as locations for thousands of movie shoots. Many of those natural movie shoot locations are now gone.

 

Close to those locations are the Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, etc. movie studio complexes and near to them are the homes of actors, crew, writers, and producers, many of whom have lost their homes. To my knowledge none of the studio complexes have been damaged by the wildfires, but what they produce has been postponed. Not a good thing at this point in time for the Hollywood movie/media industry. This event could jeopardize the size and scope of the movie/media industry in Hollywood.

 

It's good to see the local media companies donating tens of millions of dollars to nonprofit groups that have mobilized relief efforts to help victims of the wildfires that have destroyed communities. Burbank based Walt Disney Co. has committed $15 million to relief and recovery efforts. Warner Bros. Discovery also $15 million; Comcast NBC Universal $10 million, Netflix $10 million, Amazon $10 million, and Sony $10 million.

 

For dedicates Hollywood has been devoted to making movies and TV shows. My town did a great job of it. Then last year things changed. According to FILMLA Hollywood production numbers slid to alarming lows with shoot days falling well belove expectations. They dipped under 2023's strike-impacted levels. In 2024 Hollywood's crew members clung to the mantra til '25. 'Competition for the American eyeball expanded to streaming services, podcasts, and video games. Movie theatres and traditional TV have lost millions of viewing hours to these new forms of media. Then, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of minutes of texting and the addition of AI, which has changed how productions are created. Will this wildfire devastation be the nail in the coffin for the local media industry?

 

It will be interesting to observe what happens to the industry my father retired from and my youngest son and many of my friends are actively involved.

 

WHAT I STUMBLED ON

 

Thus far Burbank has fared well in this devastating wildfire incident. Part of the reason for this is that the winds brought smoke to the area but not embers. Also, BURBANK WATER & POWER is a very reliable utility compared to Los Angeles. Part of the reason for this is that the DISNEY and WARNER BROS. Studios needed lots of reliable electrical power and water to operate. They were an important consideration in how BWP was developed and maintained.

 

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If you are new to my posts and find this one interesting, you can read my prior posts, learn about my novels, and learn more about me on my website at www.richardvrupp.com. You can also sign up in the RUPP'S NOTES section to get my posts directly.

 

For those of you who have not read my novels, they are available on Amazon.com. Amazon.com: Richard V. Rupp: books, biography, latest update 

 

Until next month.

 

Cheers, 

 

Richard V. Rupp, Author

Website – www.richardvrupp.com

Email – rupprisk@gmail.com

Copyright@2025 by Richard V. Rupp