Vive L.A.?

[jhans]

I think that the friction between America and France is analogous to the friction between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

People in America love to visit France because it congers up ideas of romance and culture. Most Americans never pay much attention to the fact that there is a lot of anti-American sentiment in France. They just think that the architecture is nice and the food is good. Likewise Angelinos love to visit San Francisco because it has some neat architecture and some good restaurants.

Due to our common European roots, Americans view the French with a certain sense of brotherhood. Meanwhile, the French don’t even view many of their own people as brothers. Likewise, Angelinos assume that San Franciscans are just other Californians who live in the north. However, San Franciscans are appalled by the association and talk shit about SoCal generally and Los Angeles specifically.

Most French believe that in all the significant aspects, they are superior to Americans and try to highlight any evidence that confirms this. Americans know that they are superior and generally highlight the fact when it is necessary to smack down an ignorant European that would assume otherwise. Likewise the “bay area” (piggybacked by Sacramento) pretends that there is a rivalry with Los Angeles and therefore finds it necessary to constantly point out the superiority of the north. Most Angelinos are either mildly humored or completely indifferent to the idea that a rivalry exists. I lived in So Cal all my life and didn’t know there was a rivalry until I went to college and was told of the rivalry by my NoCal classmates.

My take is that both San Francisco and France are nice places to visit and nice places to live (if you have cash), however, when placed on the scale of global significance both have developed an inferiority complex that they mask with an over inflated self worth.

[Macbeth]

Funny you should mention this. I too was unaware of such rivalry until recently when I met someone from Sacramento that demonstrated that very mentality.

They can't be doing too good in the "rivalry" if their rival is larger unaware that they are even a rival.

[Eddy's Geist]

The funny thing about San francisco is that it really doesn't have that many great restaurants.. I've found better chinese, italian, japanese, and Mexican food in Sacramento than SF. Go figure? but, while the people in Sacramento are generally nicer and more layed back than in SF the people in SF are generally better educated and can hold a conversation about more than politics or shopping. Which brings me to LA, there's some great shopping down there and gee, everyone and everything is 'in". Of course, just because something may be the height of fashion it doesn't necessarily mean that it has any class or taste. Which brings me back to SF. Us "northerners" see that Southern Cali as kind of a west coast "miami". enough said http://bushwhacked.net/ubb/wink.gif

[wrecker05]

Hmmm. California is not normal to begin with. Didn't know you fought amongst yourselves. Wow. I just assumed.........

When I was growing up my parents had a condo in Long Beach near the Belmont (sp?) Pier. I have not been there since 1988. Where would I fall in this conflict?

[This message has been edited by wrecker05 (edited 01-08-2002).]

[wrecker05]

FYI It was a getaway spot. We were there about 2 weeks a year. My father lives there now.

[jhans]

Eddy, your comment about the quality of SF restaurants I think is accurate. I have gone to quite a few that I liked but I never thought that they had much more to offer than Sacramento restaurants. In fact one of my all time favorite restaurants (besides Del Taco) is The Firehouse in Old Town Sac. If I had my choice I would rather spend the evening in Old Town than going to the SF wharf. Besides, it’s always entertaining to watch married legislators get drunk in public with their new female “employee”.

Wrecker, Belmont Shores/ Naples is an excellent place to live if you can spend a few million dollars on one of the ocean or canal front homes. I don’t know exactly where your parents condo is but I’m sure even if it’s off of the water, it is probably still worth half a million. To answer your question, if you are from Long Beach, to a NoCal you are as inferior as anyone else from the L.A. area.

[Eddy's Geist]

You know Jeff, as much as I despise fast food... I have a weakness for Del Taco. The chicken soft tacos with the extrodinarily unhealthy "white sauce" are way too good. And at .79¢... where can one go wrong by getting four or five of them.

Damn, why does Taco bell suck so badly now? I think it's because in the late 80's (88 or 89) they tried to lower the calories in their food and started to use that Olorin crap or something like that... burritos began to taste like rancid rat meat. The new "better tasting" burritos and tacos seem to have gone back to the regular lard/vegetable oil ingredients but I can still taste a hint of rat in them.

I have to take back everything I said about Southern California. I forgot. You guys have Venice beach and West Hollywood. You guys are ok! http://bushwhacked.net/ubb/wink.gif

[jhans]

Eddy, you are right about the decline of Taco Bell’s food after their low-cal flop. However, the rancid rat meat taste is not a result of that. Instead, the taste is actually the result of the rancid rat meat that they use. http://bushwhacked.net/ubb/smile.gif

I don't know how to respond to your comment about Venice and West Hollywood. Both have attributes that make them unique and entertaining, however, I have a feeling that your comment was a backhanded compliment.

[Macbeth]

I think he actually likes Venice & West Hollywood.

But it doesn't matter cuz he missed the best parts. Pasadena (with The Huntington and Norton Simon), Newport, Huntington, old Hollywood, Mulholland Drive. And the clincher . . . Ontario.
Seriously, if I didn't live near, work in, or have family in the Inland Empire I would wish it to fall into the depths of hell for all eternity. But in all it's horror it's not nearly as bad as Sacramento's surrounding cities.

[This message has been edited by Macbeth (edited 01-09-2002).]

[jhans]

Macbeth, I think your statement about Ontario is the reverse of the S.F./L.A. friction. San Francisco berates L.A. because 1) San Franciscans love their city and life style and want to make sure that everyone knows how special they are for living there and; 2) Have an inferiority complex because no matter how much they love S.F. they know in their hearts its significance pails in comparison to L.A.’s.

In reverse, Angelinos and Orange County residents love to berate the Inland Empire (aka “The 909”) because: 1) They feel special for living in L.A. or O.C. and they want everyone else to know how special they are for living there and 2) Have a superiority complex and feel as though the more they put down The 909, they must be that much more superior.

Whether or not someone feels superior or inferior human nature causes people to talk themselves up so that they will feel more respected. That said, each county has its shit holes and while a large section of Ontario is one of them, is it as bad as Santa Ana or Compton?

[JBMoney]

Northern Californians don't care for Southern California... period. The vast *perception* is that all our tax revenue goes to pay for SoCal services. That's why 75% or so of everyone outside of the southern 7 (?) counties and SF county would prefer to form their own state.

[Macbeth]

jhans - I think your absolutely right about the Santa Ana, Compton thing. And the answer to your question is "no," I've walked Ontario far and wide and no part is as bad as Santa Ana.

I enjoy my 909 area code. However, if I ever have to walk another precinct in Rialto, Fontana, or San Bernardino then I might off myself (who's bitter?).

Even with all the little squabbles between counties, area codes and whatnot, L.A. in all it's glory is till better than the Bay area.

[Macbeth]

[This message has been edited by Macbeth (edited 01-10-2002).]

[wrecker05]

I am supposed to visit my wifes grandfather in march in Redding (sp?). What should I expect?Should I have my vacation time requests denied to avoid the trip?

[jhans]

I think that the vast amount of Californians like the idea of California as a unified state. But it is so diverse that its interests would probably be better served if it were broken up. However, if it gets cut along north/south lines it will still be controlled by a bunch of liberals that continue to push business out of the state. My recommendation is to divide it up into about four states. I know that means that the Democrats will gain more senators nationally but at least some of us Californians will be free.

State #1: Draw a line from starting south of Monterey head east to Modesto and continue east through Mammoth until you reach the Nevada boarder. Everything north of the line is in NoCal. Definitely a liberal controlled state. Make all the environmental laws you want.

State #2: Draw a line from Santa Maria and head east to Gorman then head due north to Mammoth. Everything north and east of the line would be CentralCal. The politics of this state would be interesting. I’m guessing that it would lean Democrat but that the legislature and executive could swing Republican on occasion.

State #3: Take Ventura and L.A. County and make them a state. F*%K ‘em, let ‘em burn. This state would be dominated by the Democrats. No hope. It would have the most money and always be in debt.

State #4: Everything Else. Basically, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo and Kern Counties. I know, San Diego and Orange would think that they were getting stuck with a bunch of hicks, however, it would be a solid Republican state and we could learn to get along.

JB$ knows a lot more about where the lines should be drawn to try and give some breathing room to Republicans. I’d like to hear what he has to say. I think the Democrats would still come out ahead nationally, but I’d be willing to sell out the rest of America to get them off of my local back.

[NinerFan]

It's funny to me to hear there is such a "competition" between these cities. (Not France v. U.S.) Having lived near one or the other most of my life I'd never even noticed a competition. Although, in my mind I'd pick N. Cal in a heartbeat. I also have to laugh about the "909" it does tend to make people think we're in the middle of nowhere. I tend to think parts of it are very nice. Just my opinion.

[gopsdragon]

Originally posted by jhansberger
I think that the vast amount of Californians like the idea of California as a unified state. But it is so diverse that its interests would probably be better served if it were broken up.


You're map is awful. I would never do that to the United States. You're lines leave a lot to be desired - not nearly creative enough.

Here's how you do it to save Republicans and prevent a bevy of new idiot senators in Washington.

The state should be divided into these four sections. Lines are not drawn east west but north south.

1. Starting in the southern counties of Imperial and San Diego and going north to Riverside and west to Ventura counties all are ceded to Arizona. Ventura, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego counties are enough to counterbalance Los Angeles and preserve Arizona as a Republican state.

2. Starting in San Bernardino county one goes north to Sierra county and on certain occasions goes as far west as northern Santa Barbara County. Leave only a small strip of coastline that will allow the city of Santa Barbara to remain connected to San Francisco, but rescue Santa Maria, Lompoc, and the Santa Ynez valley by drawing the lines over the mountains from Bakersfield. This gives all the conservative central valley and foothills counties to Nevada canceling out what liberal Angelinos have settled in Vegas and guaranteeing Nevada will never have another Democrat officeholder again. It also gives Nevada ocean front property, which they will enjoy. (Just as Arizona will enjoy its new ocean front property.)

3. Take conservative northern, but sparsely populated, counties from Del Norte east to Modoc, and south to Lassen, Plumas, Butte, etc. and give them to Oregon to throw the balance clearly in favor of the Republicans. By doing this we solidfy the Republican standing of Arizona, and secure Republican standing in Oregon and Nevada, leaving all the extremist Californians concentrated in...

4. a district from Mendocino south to San Luis Obispo (connected by a small strip of land to the city of Santa Barbara) and from San Francisco and Marin east to Alameda and Contra Costa. Only two Republican counties are sacrificed to the enemy, and in a few short years the state known as California would be a disasterous ruin because the idiots in the bay area would now longer be able to subsidize themselves on the backs of the rest of the state.

Who knows, maybe California would be declared in a state of emergency and the federal government would come in and administer the state. Then we could really put the wood to them.