Hawaii (Chapter 18)

 

  A beautiful picture somewhere in Hawaii. I just love how luscious it is with vegetation. Beautiful exotic plants are all over the place! (This image is not mine, it is from http://hawaiihealthfoundation.org/)

Like Los Angeles, Tourism is a big part of the economy of the state of Hawaii. Hawaii is a very beautiful place showcasing many of Mother Nature's masterpieces. Hawaii epitomizes exotic paradise which attracts many people from all over the world. This is where many Americans go when they want to experience tropical paradise. Like here in California, many immigrants from Asia came to Hawaii to live. It is because Hawaii and California are at the Pacific. And also because back then the Native Hawaiians were not inclined to work and as well as the decline of their population, many of the American and European employers sought their labor forces mainly in Asia. Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos were the main contract laborers that came to Hawaii from Asia back in the 19th century to early 20th century. In California, many Chinese came to California around mid 1800s because of the California Gold Rush. According to library.thinkquest.org, " the Chinese did not only mine for gold, but took on jobs such as cooks, peddlers, and storekeepers. In the first decade after the discovery of gold, many had taken jobs nobody else wanted or that were considered too dirty." Both California and Hawaii have historical Asian migrations.  Asians are well integrated in both states, diversifying the demographic landscape.

This is a brief video of the history of Hawaii which discusses Asian immigration.
                                         

Here is another video of history of the Chinese immigration in California. I personally like the traditional music in the backround.
                                         

The North Pacific Coast (Chapter 16)

"Klamath Rivermouth, Del Norte County, Northern California. Photo Source: US Corps of Engineers." (I took this image from http://coastalcare.org/2010/12/yurok-tribe-indians-seek-land-for-a-tribal-park-on-the-north-pacific-coast/)

A small part of northern California is part of The North Pacific Coast. The northern counties like Del Norte, Humboldt, and Siskiyou are part of the North Pacific Coast. The coast stretches from the north of our state to Alaska, passing Canada. I have never visited the coast way up there. I have seen pictures and videos of the northern coasts and they are beautiful and breathtaking, it's just too bad it's too far from me. Of course I do wish to visit the area someday. Of course we are near the coast here in Los Angeles, but it's nothing like the coasts up there. There are more giant rocks, lush forests, and fog/moisture. It is different from southern California coasts. It's colder up there and more fogs, that is why they have lighthouses such as the Heceta Lighthouse. According to the book, the North Pacific Coast is wet. Here in Los Angeles, it is pretty dry with low precipitation. Many people gravitate to the southern region because of the low frequency of rain. People are more out and about in the city.

Here is a video of the Heceta Lighthouse in Oregon along the North Pacific Coastal region. The coastal view is sublime!
                                          

California! (Chapter 15)

Our state's seal.  (I got this from http://www.answers.com/topic/california)

A topo map of California. (This image is not mine, it is from http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/mgg/topo/state2.pl?region=ca.jpg)

I love California. Although I wasn't born here I have spent 12 years here in Los Angeles. This is my home now and I do feel like I belong here. It is a beautiful state with diverse environment. Of course we have our famous beaches, but as well as beautiful mountains to hike. Let's first talk about the state's vegetation (because I love plants!). You will find eight principal categories of native vegetation in California. These are : coniferous forest, oak woodland (pretty much California's signature forest), coniferous woodland, California prairie, chaparral, sagebrush, desert scrub and marsh-grass. One of the dominant vegetation type here in Los Angeles is Chaparral which is often called "Elfin forest", consisting of evergreen shrubs like chamise, scrub oak, manzanita, ceanothus and sage. The more southern part of Los Angeles is more of a sagebrush vegetation, consisting of sagebrush and other types of shrubs. Los Angeles is a very urban and populated city, but if you pay attention carefully, you will still able to see mother nature's signature everywhere by looking at flora and fauna.
One of the known features Los Angeles have is the Los Angeles River. A picture of it is on page 309 of the book and the caption: "The Los Angeles River, usually a trickle but a major stream after winter rains, is paved for much of its length across the Los Angeles Basin, giving the river the appearance of an unused freeway." Yes most parts of our river, especially the parts that goes through the city are quite ugly. It doesn't look at all like a natural river. They cemented around the river in order for water to flow quickly out to the ocean which is a way to prevent flooding. Because the water moves faster than it's natural flowing speed, many people are afraid of flash floods. Another environmental problem is that the land or the soil are not able to absorb water, causing pretty much perpetual dryness of land. I am aware that they are trying to revive the natural state of the river but it will take a lot of time and effort.
Another thing that is mentioned in the chapter is Los Angeles' dependence on automobiles. The city of Los Angeles grew because of the expanded circulation of automobiles. Freeways are very important to the city's growth. This is why suburbanization is very prevalent here in Los Angeles. People are able to live far away from the main city areas as long as they have cars to transport them there. This of course is not healthy for the city and the environment. According to the book, "the Los Angeles area has more cars per capita than any other part of the country; only a minimal public transportation system exists."

This is a video that shows a typical California freeway traffic. I only watched the first half. To be honest, the speaker irritates me. He complains about the traffic and talks about how California should expand the freeways. First of all, it's expensive. Second of all, expanded freeways will just encourage more people to drive around with their cars causing more pollution and gas price competitions. He complains about California wanting us to take the train or the bus. What in the flying fig is wrong with that? I commute to school every time and in a way I am saving money and saving the environment!
                                              

                                                              The video reminds me of this, ha ha:

(This is not my image, I got it from http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/02/page/2/. Actually I first saw this on The New Yorker tmblr.)

The Southwest Border Area: Tricultural Development (Chapter 14)

This is basically what you will find around the southern edges of our country, dividing United States and Mexico. It's quite sad that we have to have over-the-top borders, but it is necessary in order to prevent importation of drugs and others that the video below shows. (This image is not mine, it is from http://latindispatch.com/2010/09/15/on-the-southwest-border-photo-essay/)

Here is a video showing illegal crossings.
                                            


                                          
                                 The Southwest Border Area. (This map is from http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2008/06/20080618211737eaifas0.8352472.html#axzz2DvN2ixrb)


So again, California is also part of another area called the Southwest Border Area. According to the map given in the chapter, The entire Los Angeles is part of this area. The Southwest culture is identified by three groups coexisting, and these are the: Spanish American, American Indian, and Northwest European American people. This is evident here in Southern California. Strong diversity of cultures exist in Los Angeles with the Mexican/Spanish, Native American, and Anglo influences throughout. One of the strongest cultures here in California is the Mexican culture. California was once owned by the Spanish around 1769 through the mission system. After the Spanish left California, the Mexican took over and cemented some of it's European Spanish influences. Going back to the borders, according to the book, "perhaps nowhere else in the world do high-income societies meet in such close geographic proximity as along the US-Mexico border." You will see great contrasts along the border.

Here is another video os General Craig Mckinley in California. Talking about the military service around the border.
                                           

The Empty Interior (Chapter 13)

Here is a picture of California's Mojave Desert because it is part of The Empty Interior.  Quite a romantic picture! (This picture is not mine, it is from http://www.atissun.com/blog/6256/navy-breaks-ground-on-solar-installation-in-mojave-desert/)

According to the map in the book, the Empty Interior touches our state of California, mostly the parts around or at these counties: Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono. One of the interesting things that I read from the chapter is The Mormon Presence portion. According to the book, the Mormons "dreamed of founding a country they would call Deseret, stretching north into what is now Oregon and Idaho and southwest to Los Angeles." The Mormons failed to establish this so called Deseret because of the discovery of gold here in Calfornia. Many non-Mormons came to California and disrupted the prior settlements, thus dividing Deseret into states.

Here is a youtube video about the history of Mormons here in California. Showing how many of the Mormons were persecuted and discriminated throughout history.
                                          

The Great Plains And Prairies (Chapter 12)

     

A picture of a beautiful sunset in California. (This image is not mine, it is from http://lexielantz.com/2010/01/05/sunny-california)

     The chapter talks about the extreme weather conditions in the Great Plains.  Horrible winds, violent thunderstorms, harsh droughts, hails, and destructive tornadoes.  In contrast, California do not suffer from many extreme weather conditions the Great Plains have. People want to live here in Los Angeles not just because of its popularity and energy but also its nice weather. According to VisitCalifornia.com, "California's climate is often compared to that of the Mediterranean, due to warm, dry summers, and mild, wet winters."  This is why many people from often cold, wet countries visit California to experience our often nice Mediterranean heat. Plus we have nice beaches whenever the weather gets terribly high.  According to VisitCalifornia.com, "the arid climate in Los Angeles promises lots of sun and little humidity throughout the year. Average high temps run from the high 60s°F(15.6°C) in winter months to the low 80s°F (26.7°C) in summer. Rainstorms come through from November to March, dropping roughly 2-4 inches per month."  Contrary to what many people may think, we do get some tornadoes here in California but most of them are not as destructive as what we might find in the Great Plains. It is pretty safe here in Los Angeles.  We don't have to build underground tornado shelters in our backyards. But of course, with the progressing climate changes happening all over the world, we have to expect weird weather phenomenon and we have to be ready just in case catastrophe arrives.

Here is a short video of a man talking about the Southern California weather. Kinda funny! He mentions that one of the reasons why he lives in Southern California is growing an orange tree.  Citrus trees like the orange thrives in warm temperatures and mild winters.  Like the state of Florida, California provides that weather for  tropical and subtropical floras. 

                                        

The Agricultural Core (Chapter 11)

Here is a picture of Owens River in California. (This image is not mine, it is from http://www.noehill.com/inyo/default.aspx?sequence=city)

The chapter talks about the agricultural core in the United States. One of the sections they focused on is the waterways which are very crucial to the development and progress of agriculture anywhere. Pretty much after the gold fever in California, the state started to focus on the agriculture and became very successful. By 1940, Los Angeles became number one in agricultural county in the country. This agricultural success is due to the importation of water to the land. Los Angeles was pretty much a desert back then, but with the help of water we are able to make this dry land very fertile and fruitful. Sadly, our water resources do last. During 1980 LADWP water source was mostly coming from Owens and Mono (80%). Now, only about less than 25% of our water comes from the Owens and Mono. We took too much water from Owens Lake that it actually dried up which causes many environmental and health problems in California and as well as Nevada. The lake dried up and the traditional winds carries off the alkaline dust to the air. Toxic to our lungs. DWP was taken to court and forced them to restore the lake and its ecosystem, also to reduce the dust. Many Californians out here don't know how to conserve water. Water is the most valuable commodity especially in places like California and other drier states. We have to be aware that we are taking our water in Los Angeles from a far natural source. The problem in Owens Lake shows that water is not at all unlimited and should be respected.


Here is a video showing the alkali dust near Owens...scary actually!

The Southern Coastlands: On The Subtropical Margin (Chapter 10)

Farming in Los Angeles, California in general. (This image is not mine, it is from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/08/pesticides-parkinsons-disease-well-water-contamination.html)

There are plenty of produce markets around my neighborhood here in Los Angeles. In Chapter 10 of thebook the authors discussed the agriculture prevalent in the Southern Coastlands. They focused on Florida's important produce such as citrus fruits like orange. It is mentioned that only our state of "California exceeds Florida in the production of lemons and navel oranges." (p.192) Florida's citrus economy was first introduced by the Spanish during the 1500s. Like Florida, California also shared a European Spanish influence in its history. According to The Arboretum - Los Angeles County Aretum & Botanic Garden, "the Spanish missionaries brought with them many fruits and vegetables from Europe to (Southern) California and planted several orchards." The Spanish brought apples, oranges, lemons and others. Initially, when the Spanish came to California, they weren't agriculturally skilled. It took them a couple of years to get the handle of it, of course with the slavery of Native Americans. When the Spanish left California, the Mexicans took over and introduced the rancho system. The system really made great used of the fertile land in California.

Here are some of California's seasonal fruits and vegetables (according to about.com) : Apples, Apricots, Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Avocados, Basil, Beets, Belgian Endive, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Broccoli, Broccoli raab, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cantaloupes, Pumpkins, etc. Here is the link so you can check out the whole list : http://localfoods.about.com/od/searchbyregion/a/CAFruitsVeggies.htm

This is a picture of the Grand Central Public Market in Downtown Los Angeles.  I have been here a couple of times when I was in jury duty before this semester started.  They sell many things here other than fresh produce. The food they have in there are pretty good and inexpensive! (This image is not mine, it is from http://zanzinger.photoshelter.com/image/I0000fyN.FhkF8.k)

Here is a video showing Grand Central Public Market.
                                          

Diversity (Chap 9)

            Public markets like the farmers market brings diverse people together. (This image is not mine, it is from http://www.pps.org/reference/brings-together-diverse-people/ )

My neighborhood in Koreatown is diverse but still predominantly Hispanic and Korean. Diversity is very important because it opens our minds to other cultures or beliefs. Diversity helps us broaden our perspective.We start to understand and respect other people that are different, and find common grounds that binds us positively. I believe any successful city is diverse.
In the chapter, they mentioned the South's institutionalizing racial segregation back in history. They used to practice "separate but equal facilities and opportunities for whites and blacks" but now people are not separated anymore. People learned that whatever color or beliefs you have, you are still a human being and that is what connects all of us on this planet. Due to the popularity of slavery in the Southern states back then, certain biases were imprinted to some individuals which they still carry secretly or without shame.
You really get exposed to different cultures and religions here in Los Angeles. This exposure helps us drown out our fears and biases. People of different race, color, and religion work together and benefit from one other. It's one of the beautiful things you will see in cities like Los Angeles.
 
One of the things I love most about CSUN is the diversity! Multiculturalism is an amazing thing! Here is a short amateur video showing diversity.

LA View (Chap 8)

  This is the view of LA from the Griffith Observatory.  (This image is not mine, it is from http://marqelexsis.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/zemotion-la-meetup/ ) Our skyline is pretty, but may not be as iconic as New York City's or San Francisco's, here is why: http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/landofsunshine/laws-that-shaped-la/laws-that-shaped-la-why-is-the-la-skyline-so-bland.html )

Okay, so I have seen this view many times when going to the observatory. You can see how big LA from this view. You will also notice that LA is a sprawling city. You will see Islands of tall buildings.
LA is not like in Appalachia. It is rather flat in most areas. There are no major land bodies that truly separate or isolate an area of culture. The city's terrain is not rugged, it is filled with buildings, roads, parking structures, and other city features. There may be some slight differences in culture in some areas but that's because the county of Los Angeles is big that places are separated by distance or freeways. All, if not most, areas here in the city benefit from the transportation system which helps circulate the economy here in the city.

Just showing the topography around Los Angeles. It shows the various mountain ranges that surrounds the city. (This image is not mine, it is from http://www.atmos.albany.edu/student/heathera/mapdisc_10-26-07.html )

I couldn't find a video on Los Angeles or Koreatown's geography, but I found a nice brief introduction to California's geography.

Public Transportation (Chap 7)

  This is a picture inside one of the long buses in LA. I always ride one of these to school via Orange Line. Yes, it gets really crowded.  It shows how populated LA is.  (this image is not mine, it is from http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_brt_2006-10a.htm)

     I live in a place where I have good access to public transportation. I live near main roads and intersections so it's not hard for me to get around. First I take a 5 minute ride to the Beverly subway station, then I take the Red Line(subway), then I take the Orange Line, then I take another bus at Reseda to get to CSUN. It takes me about 2 hours to get to school, that's including the waiting time and the stops. I love the Metro!
     How should I relate this to the Bypassed East chapter of the book? Well, I can only relate it by talking about how opposite my area is to the Bypassed East.  Like I mentioned earlier I am near or right on the transportation lines so my place is not at all bypassed. It is not easy for one to live and work in the Bypassed East because of the harsh climate (often cold and damp), the terrain, the quality of the soil for agriculture.  We don't really have a harsh climate here in Los Angeles.  I am still able to grow my plants in my balcony even with very hot weather.  I'm not sure about the quality of the soil where I live, probably not sufficient for farming, but the trees, bushes, and grass here are green.  Los Angeles is so much more populated than the Bypassed East.  Why did I pick transportation for this section? Because my area has abundance of it and it just shows that my area is populated, not ignored, significant, not bypassed.  It shows how the area is thriving and connected.

    This is a map of the Los Angeles bus system routes.  (The image is from http://www.theatlantic.com/special-report/the-future-of-the-city/archive/2010/06/off-the-bus/57449/ )

     Here is a video talking about Koreatown and mentions metro transportation.  It shows how it is a bustling place.

CARS!!! (Chap 5)

                                (this image is not mine, it is from http://www.johnsonmatel.com/blog1/)

     There are so many cars here in Los Angeles!  This is where the freeway is born. The first freeway in the US connected Downtown Los Angeles with Pasadena. People of Los Angeles are so dependent on their vehicles in order to get around. People can't live without them. I don't drive at all.  I have always taken the bus or the subway to get around LA. Sure it takes longer, but you get used to it.  It is cheaper to commute (only 5 dollars for a metro day pass.) and you are helping the environment.
     Chapter 5 of the book talks about the North American manufacturing core.  Well, I chose to blog about the cars in LA because it shows how dependent we are to those manufacturers in the US and abroad.  Our cars are made out of metal or steel.  The sources of these materials and other minerals are found here in North America.  According to the book, the US and Canada are "blessed with natural resources that drive heavy industry."  I looked up where our cars are made here in the US.  I went to Howtobuyamerican.com and found that the cars that are made in the US are manufactured and assembled in states like South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois, Texas, and other states.  No car manufacturers in California according to that website.  So I googled "car manufacturers in California" and found that there are about 30 manufacturers/companies located in the state.

Here are the links: http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/content/db/b-db-autos.shtml , http://www.manta.com/mb_45_A82C77VC_05/car_manufacturers/california , http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byGeo/US/byS/CA/byP/ev/ecars/byB/mfg/mfg.shtml (electric car manufacturers in California)

                        Here is a video pertaining to LA traffic and its history.  It's a good short video!

Neighborhood (Chap 4)

                                      Here is another picture I took from my apartment balcony.

     I live in a neighborhood with taller buildings. If you look closely, you are able to see the very tall buildings of Downtown Los Angeles from afar. I do enjoy living in the city. I like the energy, diversity and its complexity. I have been living here in the city for almost twelve years and I couldn't imagine myself living in a suburban environment.
     Los Angeles is such a big city.  One of the major cities here in California. The Megalopolis in Southern California includes Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, Riverside, Anaheim, and Bakersfield.  They are connected to each other by freeway or public transportation.

                                                This is a video showing Los Angeles as a whole.

Restaurant (Chap 3)

                         (This image is not mine, it is from http://burritowisdom.wordpress.com/2009/02/).

     So this is Mariela's Tacos, a Mexican restaurant just right outside my apartment.  It's been in our neighborhood for as long as I can remember. They serve good Mexican food like tacos, carnitas, burritos, and many others.  Ironically my favorite order from the restaurant are their cheese burger and fries combo...I don't know, it's just easier for me to eat it on the go.
     As I mentioned before, I live in the Koreatown area with predominantly hispanic and korean population.  You will see evidence of these cultures by looking at the restaurants around. According to the book, "culture provides a group member's identity and heritage, and in the process lays the basis for the group's meaning and purpose."  There are many Mexicans who immigrated here in Los Angeles from their country.  Their culture is tightly intertwined with the general culture here.  Mexican restaurants like this let us know of their culture's presence.  It also brings Mexicans (other hispanics too) together and gives them comfort. Mexican is one of the main regional cultures here in California.

     I actually found an amateur review of Mariela's Tacos on youtube!  The video was uploaded four years ago so their review isn't really reliable now... or then :p  Also check out the comments on the video if you have time.

                            

Griffith Park (Chap 2)

                           This is basically Griffith Park.  You will find the Griffith Observatory here.
                 (This image is not mine, it is from http://clarkblog.typepad.com/photos/la_sights/griffith_park.html.)

                    This is me at the Griffith Observatory. My friend and I hiked all the way up there.

     Griffith Park is my favorite park to visit here in Los Angeles!  It's pretty close to where I live. It only takes me approximately ten minutes or less to get there from my apartment via bus so I consider it as part of my neighborhood.  When I want to go out with a friend and we don't have a lot of money to spend, we just go here and just have a picnic (usually with the food and drinks we bought from the 99 cents only store).  This is a nice place for city people to connect with nature.
    You will see various types of plants and trees here like California oak trees, wild sage, manzanita, Nevin's barberry and many others. When talking about fauna, you will find squirrels, opossums, mule deer, skunks, coyotes, foxes, bob cats, and many others.  The park is located at the Eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains.  It stretches from Downtown to the Pacific Ocean.  The mountains also separates the Los Angeles Basin from the San Fernando Valley. The Santa Monica Mountains belong to a group of mountain ranges here in the southern part of California along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Most of California is filled with the Pacific Mountains and Valleys.  California's physical environment is very diverse.  The Los Angeles area is both flat and as well as hilly.  California as a whole contains many faults which is why we often get earthquakes here in the state.

 Here is the topography of Los Angeles. (The image is not mine, it is from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=3067 )

                            This is an amateur video showing interesting places around Griffith Park.

Intro: My Home (Chap 1)

(From http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/12/metros-street-life-in-koreatown/ )

                                      I took this picture from our apartment balcony last year.

     HELLO THERE! My name is Nathaniel and I live in Los Angeles, around the edge of Korea town area. I don't drive so it takes me about two hours to get to CSUN via bus and subway.  As you can see here, my neighborhood is quite urban. Although the rent is a little expensive (living in LA is expensive!), the location of our apartment is very favorable because we are very close to a main street where all the stores, restaurants, etc tend to gravitate. To me, just looking at the photo, what makes this place Los Angeles are the apartments, the mountains and the typical California palm trees you see sticking out. What we also have to look at are the people that inhabit the area, for they are also one of the main factors that create a certain place. My neighborhood is diverse but it is still predominantly Hispanic and Korean. According to lmu.edu "Los Angeles has the largest Latino population of any major American city and it is also home to more Koreans than any city outside of North and South Korea." You will see many Korean and Hispanic businesses side by side in harmony. There are many Mexicans or people of Mexican descent here in Los Angeles due to its history, immigration and the fact that California is just right above Mexico. California is very rich in culture which contributes to the state's complexity and success. Los Angeles is one of the major cities here in the United states, along with San Francisco, New York City, Seattle, and many others.  North America (US & Canada) is pretty much urban, industrialized and highly mobile in population.

Here is the population os Los Angeles. Koreatown alone has the population of 124, 281.

                                                    Here is a youtube video about Koreatown.