L.A. is like living in a 3d movie of the Apocalypse. It is actually possibly to WATCH western civilization crumble around you in real time. In many ways it is an accelerated vision of same crubling structres we see everywhere, L.A. is just ahead of the curve. Look at the immigrant situation, the gangs, the whores, the media, the excess, the abstinence, the scientologists.... all the extremes are represented in one place that is no longer a melting pot, but a boiling pot ready to boil over at any second.