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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Apr 27, 2013 - 10:26am PT
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I thought Burroughs was from Tarzana....
Hemingway was married in Cheyenne. Lets not leave my state, one of 'em anyway, out.
What California really needs is sandstone cracks!
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Apr 27, 2013 - 10:43am PT
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H, nice list, but you forgot that the Farallon Islands is one of the largest Great White breeding grounds in the world and then there is the Mojave Green.
I love my home state, and I think that sharks and snakes are amazing creatures (with the exception of the Florida pythons and anacondas), but I don't particularly like being around them.
Surfing in Monterey Bay, anytime seaweed would brush up on my leg, I'd freak. "What was that?"
Face to face, approaching Snake Dike, as Jim Keating and I were mantling (unroped) to the start when on a ledge, about a foot in front of our faces, yep, a coiled buzzworm. We just dropped down the eight or so feet to the slab.
OFF TOPIC
I wonder who would win a 'fight' in the Everglades, would an anaconda take a python or vice versa. if they were of equal size. I'd pick the anaconda as it is more of a water snake.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Apr 27, 2013 - 11:13am PT
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A lot of great white people come from the faralons Patrick? I thought it was all rocks, seagulls rocks and Tiburon blancos grandes....
Imagine how different Lancaster was when Frank Zappa went to high school there...
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kennyt
climber
Woodfords,California
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Apr 27, 2013 - 11:17am PT
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The white sharks keep some of the surf spots in no. cal. from getting to crowded.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Apr 27, 2013 - 12:03pm PT
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One example of that is a generous and unsustainable pension system, a political hot potato, not unique to California but shared by most states.
QITNL, also a hot potato here in Ireland as the bankers that helped bring down the economy and the politicians and senior civil servants that allowed it are still receiving handsome pensions/pension contributions from the State.
And of course the property developers and other financial institutions CEOs either get a slap on the wrist or move to the US, where they live in mansions, bought by hidden money. And Ireland's biggest chancer is now a media/communications billionaire.
While 'lower' public sector and private sector workers are seeing either their pensions reduced or even stripped. It's called 'austerity'.
The mandarins rule and don't care about the common people and middle class.
The one exception is President Michael D Higgins. He's honest and his honesty is to be listened to.
EDIT
I know the Irish were considered non-christian
Krab some truth to that, but it only applies to the politicians, senior civil servants, bankers, financiers and developers. With the one exception, Michael D.
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Jennie
Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
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Apr 27, 2013 - 12:06pm PT
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Besides, I were educated but 2 ours from Idaho... what does ya spect?
If college entrance exams are viable index for rating a state's primary and secondary education system...Idaho will rate well. In 2012 ACT test scores, Idaho was 9th among the 50 states.
http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1439
That particular rating isn't equitable to Intermountain states like Wyoming and Colorado that mandate ALL seniors take the ACT...thus many non-college bound students take the test in those states while in Idaho 67% take the A.C.T.
A more evenhanded comparison might be the University of Missouri's "State Enlightenment Ratings" based on both SAT and ACT scores and factored by percentage of H.S. students taking the exams.
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/states/uschartsat.html
Utah rates 7th, Montana 8th, Colorado 15th, Idaho and Wyoming tie for 16th.
California is well down the list at 37th. but the disadvantage is somewhat undue because that state's demographic is dissimilar to the intermountain states. I have great respect for California's primary and seconday educators and their manner dealing with the state's gravity and social milieu.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 27, 2013 - 12:07pm PT
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So, Paddy, I take it you've not had the singular pleasure of stepping on a nice wee stingray at a lovely California beach?
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Jennie
Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
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Apr 27, 2013 - 12:38pm PT
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...appreciate your post Sullly. Yes, I believe states that overtest are cut short in many "by state" comparisons.
The intermountain states have calmer waters... language wise, and that's a huge factor in their scoring well in average SAT/ACT ratings.
EDIT:California has highest percentage of English language learners in it's public schools 28.9 % ...6.0% for Idaho.
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/tables/table-ell-1.asp
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Apr 27, 2013 - 01:17pm PT
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A good school drives up the neighborhood real estate prices, so it's not only those of you with kids who have an intrest in which schools are performing, and which schools are having trouble just going through the motions.
Test scores are important. So is the percentage of students receiving school supplied breakfast and lunch ( "free" lunch ).
At at least one of the elementary schools I attended in Fontana, the rate of "free" lunch participation is 100%!
My Dad still lives in that neighborhood, and it's not a poor looking place at all. People there seem to be doing pretty good, as evidenced by the number of RVs and boats in driveways, the big, gas-guzzlers needed to tow them, newer vehicles of all kinds, with fancy features added on at extra expense...you get the picture.
Yet not one family can afford a bowl of corn flakes and a baloney sandwich?
Of course they can afford to feed their kids. What's going on there is the school is gaming the system to the absurd. In my book, that is not a mark in the school's favor.
Oh, and their test scores are in the toilet, too.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Apr 27, 2013 - 01:27pm PT
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People without the land under their home shouldn't be allowed to vote. Renters don't take care of anything.
Krab, I can't believe you wrote that, tongue in cheek, right? I hope. Democracy. A lot of countries/regions in the past, and still, say that only landowners have the vote. Ireland was one, the US South where many tenants would never have gotten the vote, Britain at one time.
You are either joking or must have flunked civil government/studies in school.
And that is a sweeping statement of renters. Do you always tarnish a certain group with a broad brush?
Jennie and I have been in this house for well over five years. I had a new immersion heater put in, had the electrical board updated to switches from the old 'plugs', had a carpenter put in proper shelves in the kitchen closet, transformed the backyard (about the size of a very large tennis court) from brambles and weeds to one with a garden, a fence between two neighbors, a top-notch shed (with windows, shelving, workbench, electricity, desk) that I use as a second office, another good shed for storage, a top-notch €6,000 greenhouse, with plumbing, electricity, veggie beds and staging shelves), raised veggie beds, flower beds, veggie beds, a rockery, a better lawn (mowing is a pain as the front and side yards are also about the size of a tennis court together). Oh yes, the water tank cleaned out and water hose taps in the backyard (there were never any, we live in a 1930s bungalow).
In order for Jennie to be discharged into home care (me) August 2010, I put railings up both sides of the front steps, the (double) door back steps and side yard kitchen door steps for her safety as she couldn't walk very well at the time.
Altogether about €40,000 out of my pocket, dummy me.
And our landlord appreciates all those thing. He has reimbursed me for the heater and electrics (but not plumbing, which he should), but I footed the bill for the yard work and electric gates (had to for Jennie's safety, so she wouldn't wander up the close, actually it is called walking nowadays - used be called absconding - but dementia experts now call it walking, I guess it is a bit more PC), as I did those things on my own volition.
In hindsight I wish I had never transformed the backyard from brambles to a garden. Really stupid for a tenant to do. But I needed to make it safe, secure and comfortable.
So Krab, think before you tarnish people.
NB I have never trashed any place I have lived in in five countries.
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Jennie
Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
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Apr 27, 2013 - 03:20pm PT
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I was inquisitive about what segment of the Idaho population you're renting to, Krab...students, long time Idahoans, émigré from other states or confirmed transients. (?)
Just curious...I can perceive some of the difficulty in evaluating tenants before the fact...
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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Apr 27, 2013 - 03:47pm PT
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Krab-if you have a number of rentals you need to get arms length away with professional management. They have the resources to better identify quality tenants from trash. Just make sure you let them know that they are accountable if the tenants they find do undue damage. It may take a bit of shopping to find the best agency.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Apr 27, 2013 - 04:04pm PT
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A lot of great white people come from the faralons Patrick?
Jaybo, LOL
The white sharks keep some of the surf spots in no. cal. from getting to crowded.
Kennyt, no doubt. I never saw one but I met a surfer who was in the water up by Bodega Bay and said one went close by, said he never paddled on his board so fast to shore.
Patrick you're a true IrishMAN - a little GIRL around snakes hahahahahaha!
Dingus, ROFLMAO (but I always try to stay away from venomous snakes).
So, Paddy, I take it you've not had the singular pleasure of stepping on a nice wee stingray at a lovely California beach?
Reilly, nearly a couple of times but they do not frighten me.
Jennie, Edgar Rice Burroughs was born in Illinois.
From Wikipedia
"and during the Chicago influenza epidemic in 1891, he spent a half year at his brother's ranch on the Raft River in Idaho."
(As I have read books on him, that’s it as far as know, six months or so, hardly makes him a native).
Also
Also another Illinois native was Ernest Hemingway, though he bought a house in Ketchum in 1940 (his summer residence), he only lived there permanently from 1959 until his death in 1961, as he travelled much of the time.
My late brother Mac had a romance with Jack’s older daughter, (Joan) Muffet Hemingway (Ernest’s granddaughter) and older sister of the late Margaux and Mariel.
It was on board the Regina Maris in 1970, a three-masted barquentine. He went on board in Southampton as a ship’s carpenter, she was a passenger.
Southampton to Portugal to Canary Islands across the Atlantic to Barbados and other ports and then through the Panama Canal up the coast to Ensenada.
My mom and I (14) drove down to meet him. We were walking in Tijuana, Mac and me ahead of Mom and Muffet when we heard a scream, some thief had snatched Muffet’s purse/handbag. I chased after him Mac right behind me. The thief disappeared down an alleyway. Police came along and in broken Spanish I tried to explain what happened.
Muffet stayed briefly at Mom’s and Mac drove her to Sun Valley. Visited her a couple of times.
She is into Scientology last I heard, living in her grandfather’s beloved Paris.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Apr 27, 2013 - 04:10pm PT
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bay area is alright, LA and Sac, armpits,
central valley? bad air, weird people,
sierra foothills? fire, dead pine trees, no jobs,
so you have 1 good place to live that has hi rent and traffic,
but you can drive 3 hours each way in traffic if you want outdoors,
major earthquake? on it's way,
so it ain't all bad, is it?
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Jennie
Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
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Apr 27, 2013 - 04:35pm PT
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Jennie, Edgar Rice Burroughs was born in Illinois.
From Wikipedia
"and during the Chicago influenza epidemic in 1891, he spent a half year at his brother's ranch on the Raft River in Idaho."
(As I have read books on him, that’s it as far as know, six months or so, hardly makes him a native).
Patrick, Mr Burroughs spent several years doing ranch work and drifting in Idaho in the 1890's...even Wikipedia intimates that...
But if you don't think Idaho can lay any claim to the author and the whole Tarzan apocrypha...
...there goes the state's precious pretension of erudition and enlightenment
:-)
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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Apr 27, 2013 - 04:55pm PT
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I've browsed this thread a few times, and see that an anti-California bent is emerging as spring unfolds in the Golden State. Funny how people like to complain and criticize what they can't have. I'm not complaining, I'm dreaming. . . .
[Click to View YouTube Video]
[Click to View YouTube Video]
John Muir's Yosemite, that is:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
I had to cut my hair and shine my shoes. Rick Vocelka literally handed me a pair of scissors from his desk drawer as I sat there in his office in 1976 and said I had a job if I'd cut my hair. I didn't do it right then, but came back a week of so later with a haircut and got on in the Ahwahnee DR.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Apr 27, 2013 - 05:03pm PT
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I could use a good Irish man who can do handiman work,
Well 4Real, I am not the best at handiwork, I can do some maintenance. After leaving England in January 1993 after seven years, I came home but couldn't find any ready journalism work. So a JHigh and HIgh School buddy was supervisor of maintenance at St Mary's College in Moraga, CA and got me a job, mainly painting, some carpentry (no electrical work, a bit of plumbing), and stuff for six months.
Then I went back to Cal State Hayward (now CSU East Bay) to finish up my BA (started at 17, graduating early from high school and finally at 39...) and start on my masters (the latter the one reason I ended up in Ireland in November 1985 to do an unpaid (went through my savings to live) internship for my masters in Michael D Higgins office for 13 months, then Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht, now President of Ireland).
If Jennie's conditions worsen in the coming months or years, it may be a nursing home (she's only 62, young nowadays), then I do not know what I will do. Stay in Ireland or "California Here I Come, Right Back Where I Started From". My brother Casey emailed me the other day saying Ireland may be better as there is no work in California (even though he acknowledges I have a very good media CV). But jobs are tough here and who wants to hire a 57 (this May 29)? Either back home or here in Eire.
Jennie, yeah I knew Burroughs drifted in and out of Idaho, so I guess he is an adoptive potatohead (ooops that may be derogatory, ha ha) Idahoan.
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Jennie
Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
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Apr 27, 2013 - 08:13pm PT
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I've browsed this thread a few times, and see that an anti-California bent is emerging as spring unfolds in the Golden State. Funny how people like to complain and criticize what they can't have.
As human beings we like to exalt our particular regions, congratulate our selfsame people and celebrate our own culture.
There's nothing unseemly about glorifying California, applauding her residents or acclaiming positive facets of Cali culture.
...but anyone lauding the state by dishing on other locale...might expect some rejoinder.
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kennyt
climber
Woodfords,California
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Apr 27, 2013 - 08:17pm PT
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They have the resources to better identify quality tenants from trash
you have such a way with words.
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rick sumner
Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
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Apr 27, 2013 - 10:12pm PT
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Nah Kenny-spent the first 25 years as a sole proprietor, built hundreds of homes and never sued. Why? because i've always kept my commitments and stood behind my product. Only incorporated when i brought my sons in who likewise honor their commitments.As for Krab, he posted two or three times about his rental getting trashed so i offered advice that worked for me.
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