4a Group #2

Group 2 If your last name starts with letters G-O, READ the following author stories in MY CALIFORNIA: Tobar, Steinbeck, Humes, Warshaw


Ode to CalTrans by Hector Tobar

The essay, Ode to Caltrans by Hector Tobar is about his memories of the Los Angeles freeway's and how they have changed, for the better and for worse. As a child growing up in Los Angeles he remembers the freeway's being clean, and just a daily part of life. Whenever his famiy traveled they traveled on the freeway. As he gets older he realizes that those same freeways are part of air pollution, horrid car accidents, and the deaths of many Caltrans workers.

"Perhaps that was the first time I thought of the freeway as a place of pollution and peril. Up to then, it was just the byway of our family wanderings, the Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard onramps, the beginning of most of our visits to relatives and friends. To sit my father's Volkswagen with my nose pressed to the rear window, watching the traffic flow along with us at fifty miles per hour was as natural to me as walking along the fence posts of a country road would be to a boy from Nebraska." pg. 57

This reading made me think of the trip that I made to Los Angeles just last week. We traveled on all of the freeways that are mentioned in this reading. I viewed quite the same as the author did as a child. It is just the byway of our family wanderings, and natural it is more me to travel on freeways so often without even thinking of it as a convenience, only as a necessity.

I did not before this reading that CalTrans used to place a picture of a white helmet where ever a CalTrans worker died while on the job until there were so many signs that CalTrans took them down because, "a highway shouldn't look like cemetery."

Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home by Thomas Steinbeck

Montalvo, Myths and Dreams of Home is an essay about the myths of California. Montalvo writes a story about mythical California, a utopian island in the western sea. For many people California is utopia. Many can find just what they are looking for in California. The essay focuses in on The Big Sur, and how this is Thomas Steinbeck's utopia within California. In his youth he rode horses and mules, and camped my the mountains streams. He depicts the sunsets off of the cliffs of The Big Sur with the Pacific ocean just below him. The writer explains the myths of unexplained humanoids that live in the mountains. They are smaller than humans and never are seen in daylight. His grandmother atests to leaving little gift baskets with fruit and homeade candy for them, and in exchange they would always leave a seashell or a feather in the gifts place. According to the myth they were never harmful, they only watched silently over their territory.

"Even though I cannot now call those secluded canyons and cliffs home, my abiding memories of this lonely span of California coastline holds my soul in thrall and delights the imagination beyond all else I know." pg. 67

The reading by Thomas Steinbeck about The Big Sur made me think of how much there is around me in this state that I take for granted, and how one area may be treasured by one and not thought of at all by another.


The Last Little Beach Town by Edward Humes

The Last Little Beach Town is Seal Beach in Orange County California. Despite being in "the OC", Seal Beach has managed to maintain its small town feel. The cities housing is a pleasant mix of orignal beach bungalows along with million dollar mansions. Its Old Town is hidden from view when driving down the freeway, helping to maintain its small beach town feel. The city council decided in the past to forbid duplexes and apartment buildings for the most part. At one time (1913) the idea was for Seal Beach to be a tourist destination. It briefly became one and then failed. It is starting to become a tourist destination once again. The city is in need of the cash and there is a push to let go one of the last undeveloped piece of land. It is now being prepared for housing contruction.

"Confustion about Seal Beach's identity and location is key to its survivial" pg. 71

The writer's description of Seal Beach, the last little beach town, sounds like every little beach town that I have imagined going to.

Before this essay I did not know where Seal Beach was. I knew that it was in Southern California somewhere, but like the description given by the writer, many people who live down there drive by that area all the time and couldn't tell you where Seal Beach is located.


Surfacing by Matt Warshaw

Surfacing is about a small group of dedicated surfers the surf Pillar's Point, or Maverick's, in Half Moon Bay, California. Maverick's has long been known for the greatest waves outside of Hawaii. Jay Moriarity, a 16 year old surfer tells the story of his close call while surfing Maverick's. While surfing he is pulled under a wave and his board snaps in half. He goes back to the boat, grabs another board and goes back out there. As the story goes the name Maverick comes from a dog who shares an experience similar to Jay Moriarity, and so the story goes, the surfer that Maverick was with started to call that surfing spot after the dog.

"And as the untroubled imagination reduces fear and anxiety beforehand, it may also smooth things out afterward." pg. 87

I have heard of Maverick's, or Pillars Point, and Maverick's surfing contest every year on the radio. It reminded me of all of the people I have met that go out there and camp to watch the surfer's every year.

I didn't know previously that Half Moon Bay is the oldest city in San Mateo County. I also didn't know that Maverick's got the name Maverick from a dog!

3C Inland Areas Sacramento CA vs. Riverside CA

1.Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points

2.Contains a web link to your locations. (eg you can use the tools in your blog where you paste your work; there is a little icon that looks like a link) .25 points
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside,_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California
http://media.point2.com/p2a/htmltext/20e0/89a7/7653/28f4b307c2152c98ecc6/original.jpg
http://www.businessfacilities.com/images/bfsep06p16b.jpg

3.Contains an explanation regarding how this component (any aspect of it; eg content of videos, content of websites) connects to your study of humanities. .25 point
This component connects to our study of humanities by exploring areas and learning about areas that we may not know about already. I am from California and it is always interesting to me learn new things about my state. Even though I have lived here all of my life, I find I am learning about new places and new facts every week with our projects.

4.Contains the following elements that will be used in upcoming projects for analytical purposes:
a.What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
People often think of the Riverside area to be a "party" area because it is has a university and is very close to several other universities. Sacramento shares similar stereotypes in regards to being a "party" town due to the university. Sacramento is also suggested to be cheap.

b.List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point
1.Both cities have universities in their city, and others in the surrounding area.
2.These cities have very similar climate in the late spring and summer.
3.In each city @ 15% of family's incomes are below the poverty line.

c.List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point.
1.The cities are on opposite ends of the state with Sacramento being in the northern inland region and Riverside being in the southern region of the state.
2.Sacramento has an NBA team, the Sacramento Kings, and Riverside does not have any NBA teams.
3.Sacramento is the capital of California.

d.Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. .5 point
Each city is well known for their universities, what population of each city are college students?

5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point
I have been to both beaches that Frank compared in his California Beach component of project 3. I learned from him that Half Moon Bay's beach has greater marine life than the Santa Monica beach.
http://humanities7fxd.blogspot.com/2009/03/half-moon-bay-state-beach-santa-monica.html

3B Beaches/ Ocean Beach, San Francisco Ca & Huntington Beach, Ca

1.Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points

2.Contains a web link to your locations. (eg you can use the tools in your blog where you paste your work; there is a little icon that looks like a link) .25 points
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Beach,_San_Francisco,_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntington_Beach,_California
http://www.daytrippen.com/images/places/huntington-beach/huntington-beach1lg.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Oceanbeachsf.jpg

3.Contains an explanation regarding how this component (any aspect of it; eg content of videos, content of websites) connects to your study of humanities. .25 point
This component of project 3 has taught me about other areas of California that I wouldn't otherwise make a point of researching. I now know more about California beaches, how they are similar and different regardless of where they lie geographically.

4.Contains the following elements that will be used in upcoming projects for analytical purposes:
a.What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point
Some assumptions people may have about Huntington Beach is that everyone looks like a movie star because it is so close to LA and is in Orange County Ca. Orange County is always glamorized. Ocean Beach is categorized as a non-sunny beach because it is in San Francisco, but there are actually some "beach" days there also!

b.List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point
1. Both beaches are on the CA coastline.
2. Surfers are drawn to each beach for their unique surfing conditions.
3. Each beach has their own surf shops.

c.List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point
1. While both beaches are located along the coast of CA, the climates are very different. Huntington Beach has the typical southern California beach weather and Ocean Beach has a climate of a northern California beach, being much cooler and foggier.
2. Huntington Beach is a state beach. Ocean Beach SF is not categorized as a state beach.
3. Ocean Beach is just a name of the coastline that lies along the coast of San Francisco. Huntington Beach is actually a city as well where there are approximately 194,436 residents.

d.Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. .5 point
Huntington Beach sits on a salt dome that contains oil. I know that there are two spots where oil extraction continues, I want to know if there have ever been any oil spills on Huntington Beach?

5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point

From Thida's work last week on project 3a I learned that she used to live in southern California. I have always lived in the Bay Area. I am hoping to move to the southern parts of California.
http://missthaiteeveeblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/3a-world-cities.html

3a World Cities, San Francisco & New York City

1.Contains a title using the format listed above .25 points

2.Contains a web link to your locations. (eg you can use the tools in your blog where you paste your work; there is a little icon that looks like a link) .25 points
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City

3.Contains an explanation regarding how this component (any aspect of it; eg content of videos, content of websites) connects to your study of humanities. .25 point

This component relates to my study of humanities by way of global studies. By comparing to world known cities, San Francisco and New York City, I am expanding my knowledge of other cities in the world.

4.Contains the following elements that will be used in upcoming projects for analytical purposes:
a.What are some assumptions/stereotypes you think people have of each location: 1 point

In each city they are typically considered to by very liberal politically. For the most part that is true, but there are not only liberal citizens. New Yorkers are often said to be rude and pushy. I don't get that impression of New Yorkers.

b.List 3 things that make each location similar: 1 point

1. Both cities are located next to the ocean
2. Each city is divided into areas/buroughs. New York City is divided into the areas of Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island, etc. San Francisco is divided by areas such as the Sunset District, Mission District, Financial District, etc.
3. Each of these cities is rich in culture with many art galleries, museums, and parks.

c.List 3 things that make each location so different: 1 point

1. Each city resides on different coasts of the United States.
2. San Francisco has a Mediterranean like climate with very little seasonal temperature variation throughout the year, and dry summers. New York City has a humid subtropical climate. The summer's are hot and humid, while winters are very cold and snowy.
3. New York City is built on relatively flat land, while San Francisco is filled with streets paved on steep hills.

d.Questioning: What else would you like to know about these places? When completing the question section, lead your audience into the question by stating a fact you do know, yet you still have the related question. This way, both your audience and you will have an educational experience. .5 point

I know that many, many people visit each of these cities every year, I would like to know how many dollars are generated for each by tourism.

5. Using your classmates work from last week, tell us one thing you learned from 1 student. Is this one thing some common experience you share or some experience that is completely different than what you experienced? Is this one thing related to our class theoretical foundation and if so, how? Is that one thing related to historical or cultural context of this country or a different one? Link that persons blog to this entry (eg cut paste that blog entry here) . .5 point

In Kayleb's post about the Santa Rosa Junior College I learned that the school is over a hundred years old and that there have been many students to move on to some very prestigious universities such as Yale, Stanford, and Berkeley.