He's no arsonist, he's a "Job Creator"™.

Suspected co-conspirator:

God bless you Monsieur Rosewater.

Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Captain Beatty or Guy Montag?

Apparently, surprisingly common.

I hate to say this, being a regular Canadian and all, but this coming out of Québec surprises me not at all. Québec is easily the most corrupt and inept province in Canada, but some people there think that they can be a viable country. Riiight. That could happen someday, I suppose, right after retards get a worldwide political lobby.

Some men just want to see the monde burn.

I may have had a spelling error.

the ha ha guy: He's no arsonist, he's a "Job Creator"™.

More like job security.

onomatopoeon: I hate to say this, being a regular Canadian and all, but this coming out of Québec surprises me not at all. Québec is easily the most corrupt and inept province in Canada, but some people there think that they can be a viable country. Riiight. That could happen someday, I suppose, right after retards get a worldwide political lobby.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, uh, have you looked at your southern neighbor lately?

And at the Republican party in said southern neighbor?

I guess he hates all the "French Signs Only" as much as I do.

mavrickatubc: Apparently, surprisingly common.

Is it really surprising?

Can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs
Can't fix a car without getting your hands dirty
Can't fight a fire without starting a fire

Seems to be a trend: (pops)

Felgraf: onomatopoeon: I hate to say this, being a regular Canadian and all, but this coming out of Québec surprises me not at all. Québec is easily the most corrupt and inept province in Canada, but some people there think that they can be a viable country. Riiight. That could happen someday, I suppose, right after retards get a worldwide political lobby.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, uh, have you looked at your southern neighbor lately?

And at the Republican party in said southern neighbor?

You are quite correct, sadly. I'm seriously considering moving to Norway, because the US seems to be a prime suspect for inbreeding, unless there is some other factor at work.

Lightweight.

Captain John Orr is suspected of over 2,000 counts of arson and had the balls to publish a novel describing a "fictional" heroic arson investigator who started fires.

He's serving multiple life terms for the four people who died when he burned down a hardware store, and brush fires around LA went down 90% after his arrest, but of course his colleagues are still calling for his release.

That's not nearly half as wacky as the arson investigator who wrote a novel about a firebug arson investigator. A couple years after the book was published, he was popped for setting fires up and down the state of California.

It happens more times than you think.
Link

onomatopoeon: I hate to say this, being a regular Canadian and all, but this coming out of Québec surprises me not at all. Québec is easily the most corrupt and inept province in Canada, but some people there think that they can be a viable country. Riiight. That could happen someday, I suppose, right after retards get a worldwide political lobby.

Aren't they already a separate nation within Canada or something? So, basically, gimme gimme gimme, but don't you dare ask me to do my share for the country as a whole...

probably trying to get some english speakers out of his neighborhood.

Benevolent Misanthrope: onomatopoeon: I hate to say this, being a regular Canadian and all, but this coming out of Québec surprises me not at all. Québec is easily the most corrupt and inept province in Canada, but some people there think that they can be a viable country. Riiight. That could happen someday, I suppose, right after retards get a worldwide political lobby.

Aren't they already a separate nation within Canada or something? So, basically, gimme gimme gimme, but don't you dare ask me to do my share for the country as a whole...

lol. Scandinavian nations pretty much know Canada as one of their own already, as we do them, so there shouldn't be much of a transition problem. Us communist countries pretty well stick together. :-)

LaughingRadish: That's not nearly half as wacky as the arson investigator who wrote a novel about a firebug arson investigator. A couple years after the book was published, he was popped for setting fires up and down the state of California.

John Orr's book was never published. The closest it came to being published was when parts of it were put on the record when he was tried for numerous arsons (and ~4 murders).

mavrickatubc: Apparently, surprisingly common.

Not surprising in the least. If you like fire, you'd hang out in a fire department. And if you really really like fires... well, you get the point. It's called a self-selecting sample. Kinda like how pedophiles who hate their sexuality go into the priesthood to be in a place where they're not expected to have sex. That kind of idea.

Paris1127: John Orr's book was never published. The closest it came to being published was when parts of it were put on the record when he was tried for numerous arsons (and ~4 murders).

So I'm imagining this book and the Ray Liotta movie?

At least Orr's not likely to be able to spend most of the profits anytime soon.

Arsonist becomes Volunteer Firefighter, and continues starting fires, and gets to play the hero as well as he watches his work burn?

Shocking. Not uncommon in the least, actually.

fnordfocus: Paris1127: John Orr's book was never published. The closest it came to being published was when parts of it were put on the record when he was tried for numerous arsons (and ~4 murders).

So I'm imagining this book and the Ray Liotta movie?

At least Orr's not likely to be able to spend most of the profits anytime soon.

I didn't know it had gotten published either. Is that a novelization of the film? According to the Wiki article, and the publication date of the book, Orr was already in prison doing his time when both the movie and that book were released; and the Son of Sam laws would have prohibited him from participating in either. And I can't imagine Orr's victims' families allowing the release of the manuscript--or as big an egomaniac as Orr permitting the book's release without his participation.

Better go do some research.

Gyrfalcon: I didn't know it had gotten published either. Is that a novelization of the film? According to the Wiki article, and the publication date of the book, Orr was already in prison doing his time when both the movie and that book were released; and the Son of Sam laws would have prohibited him from participating in either. And I can't imagine Orr's victims' families allowing the release of the manuscript--or as big an egomaniac as Orr permitting the book's release without his participation.

Found one of Orr's appeals.

It looks like the trial judge screwed up, and Orr will get to keep proceeds once he's satisfied any restitution requirements (see Paragraph 23).

onomatopoeon: You are quite correct, sadly. I'm seriously considering moving to Norway, because the US seems to be a prime suspect for inbreeding, unless there is some other factor at work.

Don't judge us, 'til you try it.

Kidding.

But I do currently live near Arkansas, so I think that makes me an expert on inbreds.

fnordfocus: Paris1127: John Orr's book was never published. The closest it came to being published was when parts of it were put on the record when he was tried for numerous arsons (and ~4 murders).

So I'm imagining this book and the Ray Liotta movie?

At least Orr's not likely to be able to spend most of the profits anytime soon.

I've seen numerous documentaries about Orr, some of them recent, and not a single one has mentioned his book being published. So this shocks me...

/frequently bought together with Joseph Wambaugh's book about the case

Meant to bold the inbred part, not the last part. Don't worry, I'm just incompetent, not inbred.
Though my mom's family does have some cousins marrying cousins not so far back. Hmmm.

Here's the guy you're looking for:

Ah yes, the old "hero" syndrome. Yes, it's called something else, but it's late, and i don't care that much.

Bit'O'Gristle: Ah yes, the old "hero" syndrome. Yes, it's called something else, but it's late, and i don't care that much.

Provided he's not a pathological arsonist, it's Munchausen's By-Proxy, or Malicious Hero Syndrome. He creates an event which allows him to be portrayed as a hero. It's the same kind of pathology that goes on when a nurse poisons their patients so they can "save" them and be the hero.

ever notice how when you are at a good barn burner and theres someone videoing with a slow pan of the watching crowd?

/Facial recognition is such fun.
//Compile a file from various fires in various areas on repeat faces and it saves you a ton of pretend work to zero in on the arsonist.

The biggest wildfire Colorado has ever fought was started by a a Part-Time Ranger looking for more hours on her paycheck.

Well, she's got more hours now. Making license plates.

He would have gotten away with it all if he hadn't started that one fire in English that caught the attention of the language police who eventually told the fire dept.

fnordfocus: Gyrfalcon: I didn't know it had gotten published either. Is that a novelization of the film? According to the Wiki article, and the publication date of the book, Orr was already in prison doing his time when both the movie and that book were released; and the Son of Sam laws would have prohibited him from participating in either. And I can't imagine Orr's victims' families allowing the release of the manuscript--or as big an egomaniac as Orr permitting the book's release without his participation.

Found one of Orr's appeals.

It looks like the trial judge screwed up, and Orr will get to keep proceeds once he's satisfied any restitution requirements (see Paragraph 23).

Interesting. Appalling, but interesting.

Here in Australia, the Rural Fire Brigade is full of these sickos.

onomatopoeon: I hate to say this, being a regular Canadian and all, but this coming out of Québec surprises me not at all. Québec is easily the most corrupt and inept province in Canada, but some people there think that they can be a viable country. Riiight. That could happen someday, I suppose, right after retards get a worldwide political lobby.

You should work for the "NO" side if there's another referendum.

"Quebec can't be a country because that volunteer firefighter started some fires on purpose"