Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1exp 10/6/83; site ihuxp.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!ihnp4!ihuxp!pmf From: pmf@ihuxp.UUCP (n) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: East v. West Message-ID: <502@ihuxp.UUCP> Date: Fri, 7-Oct-83 11:26:44 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxp.502 Posted: Fri Oct 7 11:26:44 1983 Date-Received: Sun, 9-Oct-83 04:03:38 EDT References: <369@seismo.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il Lines: 73 Having followed the East v. West discussion closely for the past several days, I've finally reached the point where I can no longer sit back and listen to such territorial prejudice as I've seen in previous articles without entering some of my observations of the various locations I've been around the nation. Having lived in Connecticut for 17 years, Philadelphia, PA for 4, Palo Alto, CA for 1 and finally in the Chicago area for 1, I believe that I've been exposed to a great variety of living conditions around the nation and am able to draw upon experience to form conclusions rather than simply relying on rumor or media stereotypes. The first issue which irks me is the notion that the East Coast is composed of a bunch of inner city slobs who go around looting, polluting and basically being crowded like sardines in everything they do. This image has been well cultivated over the years and I must admit there are several urban areas along the eastern seaboard which suffer from overcrowding. However, Los Angeles is certainly not known for its wide open spaces (it isn't called the City of Lights for nothing) and San Francisco, with all its Victorian charm still has to face the fact that the only reason its buildings are separated by an inch is due to a city ordinance. Yes those quaint hills are covered with people living in homes almost on top of each other! Oakland is known to have it urban problems (high unemployment, a large proportion of low income housing, etc) and does not afford its inhabitants huge expanses in which to live either. Rush hour traffic, another outgrowth of large populations is every bit as dismal (if not worse) in Los Angeles as it is in the New York area. Ever try to cross from the southern part of LA county through to the valley ~5 pm? I did on a drive from San Diego back to Palo Alto, entering the county at 4:30 and passing by the Galleria (like, grody to the max!) about 8:15, truly one of the less-than-fantastic aspects of California life! San Francisco has its problems about 5 pm as well. Have any of you ever driven on the Bay Shore Freeway, or the freeways around Oakland or the South Bay area at rush hour? It's not a pleasant experience! Pollution? Sure there's a lot of it in the heavily industrial northeast, especially severe in the summer months due to stagnant humid air in the Washington, Philadelphia, New York Megalopolis, however the air around LA is nothing to write home about either with the smog oftentimes severely reducing visibility. And what of the peculiar yellow haze which constantly hangs over the South Bay area, especially near San Jose and the rest of the Silicon Valley? Yes, the West has a lot to offer in the way of beauty. It is chock full of gorgeous scenery at Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, the coastline, the Sierras, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, the Rockies and the cities themselves: San Francisco will always be one of my favorites and places like Monterey, San Clemente, San Diego and (from what I hear) Boulder are just beautiful. On the other hand, the eastern section of the nation also has its beautiful and historical sights to see. Of course we have the old, distinguished and CULTURALLY ENRICHED major cities all along the eastern seaboard, particularly from Washington to Boston, but the area also has the numerous historical landmarks, beautiful rolling hills (the lack of which are sorely missed in the Chicago area!) and fantastic pastoral settings, the like of which I've yet to come across anywhere else in the nation! I enjoyed my year in California immensely! The weather, excluding the absolutely soggy months from December until March, was fabulous to be able to get out and see what the state had to offer. Such things as the old New England towns and buildings and colors were sorely missed, as was the "normal" snow (no, not 36" at one time as occurred last winter) during the winter months. My PERSONAL preference still lies in the East and the charm of the old green at the center of town set in the rolling hills of New England, particularly in this time of changing colors in the vegetation, a period which has always been my favorite as the scenery of New England, Pennsylvania and upper New York state seems to take on a "postcard" status. Basically both areas of the nation have a lot to offer and there doesn't seem to me to be any reason for regional snobbery but rather a bit of mutual appreciation would seem to be in order here. Neither section, in my opinion can be construed as being absolute Nirvana but then so is neither a living hell! --Phil Francisco AT&T Bell Labs ..ihnp4!ihuxp!pmf