The smoke over the city is thick and making many ill, especially those with resperitory problems.
This is the view out my Dining Room window. Ordinarily there is a beautiful view of Sydney Harbour...
...and this is a shot of The Sydney Harbour Bridge on my way to work. Usually there is a city full of skyscrapers right behind the bridge.
It's definately not pleasant here right now. 
My family and I have been following the bushfire situation in the Sydney area and have been horrified to learn that some of the fires have been deliberately lit. I have a sister and her husband living in the Fairfield area and this makes one sit up and take notice.
Our sympathies are with the many people who have lost houses and to the animals that have been affected, both domestic and wildlife. Our prayers go out to the Firefighters, both men and women, who put their own lives in danger to do their job, and to the Firefighters from other States that re-arrange their lives to drive a thousand plus kilometers to provide help to the NSW crews.
I am particularly disgusted that the Law does not allow for the full punishment of the people that start the fires, the people that rob the unattended houses and the cowardly idiots that stole equipment from the fire engine while its crew were desperately doing their job to save peoples houses. (Quite possibly their house/s was one of the houses saved)
I believe that the public stocks should be returned as a punishment so that the public can have a good look at the scum that is making other peoples lives a living hell while the Court system is simply saying to these type of people that they are simply naughty. I belive that they should be made totally responsible for their actions. Likewise for children underage, the parents should be make responsible, once it is really affecting their wallets it would make parents sit up and take notice.
I also realise, of course, that some of the fires are started naturally due to the intense heat. I grew up in the Central Western Queensland town of Blackall and saw quite a fair share of fires in the region.
With a little bit of natural luck the weather will change and it will rain.
Michael.
Some low-lifes (acting as if they were helping) looted stores near the World Trade Center after the planes hit. NYC cops grabbed them pretty quick, and I read somewhere they are really going to get the book throw at them. Hopefully, the Sydney police will get the fire-starters and theifs.
Not good...