Californians, in cooperation with the State of California and California Cities of Service, are volunteering in record numbers, and why not?
California is all about good vibrations, after all.
CaliforniaVolunteers, in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies, got together California mayors from the Cities of Service coalition, a bi-partisan group of mayors from cities across the nation who have promised to work together to expand volunteering.
The California Cities of Service mayors met to learn and share innovative strategies to harness the power of volunteers to help address critical community needs in the Golden State. The meeting included an exercise on developing city service plans and cultivating business partnerships.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are founding members of the group.
The California cities of Los Angeles and Sacramento were each chosen to receive a Cities of Service Leadership Grant of $200,000 funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
The grant provides money to hire a Chief Service Officer to develop and implement a citywide plan to increase volunteerism for addressing the most pressing needs in both California cities.
"California is at the forefront of the service movement and we are so proud of the 18 California cities that have accepted the challenge to find innovative ways to leverage service as a strategy for addressing critical community needs," said Karen Baker, Secretary of Service and Volunteering for the State of California.
"The economic downturn has forced the nonprofit sector to do more with less, and by cities stepping forward to engage volunteers in pressing issues, we will help tackle some very difficult challenges in education, healthcare, poverty and other areas. We invite additional cities to join the service movement and stand with us."
Baker's devotion to promoting programs that have people helping people is noble and empowering for California as a society.
Currently, 18 California cities are members of the Cities of Service coalition:
Chula Vista
Davis
Fresno
Irvine
Lancaster
Los Angeles
Oakland
Placerville
Riverside
Roseville
Sacramento
Salinas
San Francisco
San Jose
Santa Cruz
Santa Rosa
Stockton
Ventura
The Cities of Service program, founded last September, honors the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed into law by the President in April, 2009.
CaliforniaVolunteers Chairperson First Lady Maria Shriver honors the memory and legacy of her uncle Teddy as she encourages California citizens to reach out to each other in the spirit of service:
"I am asking all Californians to strengthen our great state by connecting with their families, their neighbors, and their communities through service," states the First Lady of California.
Californiality urges other California cities, and cities across the nation, to join the Cities of Service program and begin an organized effort to effectively empower people where they live.
"On PCH" is a 2010 song by the Los Angeles band White Smoke.
Music fans just can't get enough songs about California, so here's a new single about the Pacific Coast Highway.
"On PCH" is a mellow pop tune about enjoying Southern California on a drive from Calabasas, through Malibu Canyon, to Santa Monica.
White Smoke's scenic video travels from the 101 Freeway all the way to the California Incline. If you're watching the video from outside of California, you will want to be here.
Simple, sunny and sublime, "On PCH" has a melody that sticks in your head like a Pacific Ocean breeze. White Smoke has put a great tune together with some of the most scenic video in Southern California.
Russian President Medvedev chose to officially visit California before the United States. Why California?
"California Gurls" is #1 and the President of Russia came to dance?
Arnold Schwarzenegger recognized Dmitry Medvedev's California-first gesture with a toast to a new international trade mission to Russia for building business and technology partnerships.
"It's a great collaboration," Schwarzenegger said.
Medvedev wants to start Russia's very own Silicon Valley as part of a 'modernization' thing. Really?
The real Silicon Valley was made famous by freedom-loving capitalists who created magic in a non-oppressive environment which inspired genius. Is Moscow into the groovy creative vibe thing now?
Medvedev's 'modernization' plan claims to support transparent competition, foreign investment security and private ownership in Russia.
Is it all just a public attempt to legitimize the Kremlin's clique bail-outs, monopoly, state control, and elitist favoritism?
Vladimir Putin chairs the Russian state bailout bank VEB, but comrades are quick to point out that Putin is no longer the president of Russia --- Medvedev is the president now, so no biggie, right?
Lilia Shevtsova, an analyst for the Carnegie Endowment-Moscow said Medvedev's intentions are not what western investors are being led to believe.
"Western capital helps to support the status quo. It injects financial and technological Viagra to the existing system," the Russian analyst stated.
Is California just being used as a "Dancing With the Stars" stage for Putin's choreography while Medvedev works the audience for call-in votes?
The Renova Group, a Russian corporation cozy with Kremlin power, is now going to 'donate' $1-million per year to keep Northern California's Fort Ross State Historic Park looking "Russian".
"Russian private investment will help the state,'' Schwarzenegger said. Why didn't the State of California simply ask its 40-million residents to donate 3-cents every year instead? Just three cents!
California citizens don't want strings attached to anything... from anyone... anymore. Next thing you know, the Golden State will be flooded with Russian cars, aluminum, oil, gas, technology, metals and "Russian Gurls".
Didn't Gorbachev proclaim in a speech that the Soviet hammer must appear to retreat --- only to come back with a more forceful blow?
Candidate for California Governor Chelene Nightingale, the conservative constitutional candidate, is now attracting support from the veterans who put their lives on the line to defend the Constitution of the United States.
Recently, the National Veterans Coalition presented Nightingale with the America First Award. The veterans group had previously presented the same award to Arizona's Sheriff Joe Arpaio in 2008.
The national chairman of the National Veterans Coalition is Larry Breazeale, Msgt. USAF, retired. Breazeale, a veteran of both Vietnam and Desert Storm, ran for the California State Assembly twice in the 1970s. He examines political candidates with an experienced, critical eye.
Larry Breazeale told Californiality why Chelene Nightingale is an appealing candidate for California governor to him, and to California's military veterans:
"I saw in Chelene a whole lot of political savvy; a caring mother and home schooler; a constitutional political activist; a proactive anti-illegal immigration hard charger who really believes in putting America first from the grass-roots level," Breazeale said.
"I approached Chelene and asked her if she would consider running for California Governor. After much thought, she finally said 'yes'. As national chairman of the National Veterans Coalition, I am happy to represent thousands of our NVC members across the country who endorse Chelene Nightingale for governor of California."
When asked what makes Chelene Nightingale different from the other two major candidates for California governor, Larry Breazeale was emphatic.
"Unlike her Republican 'establishment' opponent Meg Whitman and the old Democrat retread Jerry Brown --- who both support 'comprehensive immigration reform' --- Chelene Nightingale opposes such legislation because she knows, as well as the majority of the voting public, that that type of legislation is just a front for the amnesty of 25-million illegal aliens already in the USA."
Breazeale further explained what veterans like about Nightingale as a gubernatorial candidate.
"Chelene was the first California governor candidate to come out and support a part-time California State Legislature in Sacramento! Chelene was the first to come out and support the 'rule of law' SB1070 in Arizona, and to support the "Buycott" of Arizona," Breazeale stated.
"As governor, Chelene would NOT hesitate to put the California Army National Guard on the CALMEX border. Also, as governor, she would cut all welfare programs and state benefits for illegal aliens and no drivers licenses for illegals. Chelene Nightingale is the real Tea Party-endorsed candidate."
Californiality dropped by Chelene Nightingale's primary election night victory party in Burbank. During her speech, Nightingale declared that, as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the California State Military, she would immediately send state troops to secure the California-Mexico border.
Judging by the numerous military veterans who attended Nightingale's victory party, it is obvious that California's rebel candidate enjoys the support of many men and women who risked their lives to protect the Constitution.
Chelene Nightingale, the daughter of an Air Force family, is a lifelong supporter of veterans and their issues. The constitutional candidate for California governor spoke passionately to Californiality about military veterans and the Constitution:
"I cannot sit by and watch our precious Constitution dismantled when my father, and millions of veterans, put their lives on the line for our freedoms. I will not rest until California, once again, fully honors the document that our founding fathers invested their hearts, minds and souls into. My fight for California has just begun!"
Who cares about California? The world does. More than just Hollywood celebrities and Silicon Valley tech titans, the Golden State's gilded sheen is blinding.
The universal California Dream burns into humanity's collective psyche more deeply than ever in 2010. The spectacle that is California still dazzles the entire planet, it seems.
The number one song at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 is still "California Gurls". Just days ago, the top news focus was Abby Sunderland, the California teen sailor found alive. California candidates Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina have captured global attention as self-made billionaires wanting to rule.
Is there nothing that cannot be seen in California?
The nations of the world continue to stare, gasp and wonder at the Golden State's ability to rise, fall, and shoot heavenward once more. California truly is spectacular entertainment par excellence.
Hollywood is collecting more money than any time in history, with bigger and bigger blockbuster movies, music, videos and websites which utilize the highest technology that Silicon Valley has ever created.
The world is amazed at how this most famous land, after being virtually declared dead in 2009, has resurrected itself to full golden glory in 2010.
The planet's ultimate 'melting pot' is changing politics, religion, business, economics, psychology, society, reality and history at a pace that has the world gaping in shock.
California is defining humanity's new zenith. Who cares about California? You do.
The 2010 California governor's race has become a spectacle of conspicuous consumption that blows previous California campaign seasons away.
Most average folks are watching some candidates for California governor spend money so indiscriminately that many are questioning the sanity of California itself.
One gubernatorial candidate has blown over $100-million, with the bulk of the cash going for media advertising. Shameful.
My $100-Million Gubernatorial Campaign
Hypothetically, I have $100-million to invest in a long and very public 'job interview' for a position that pays just over $200,000 per year. Right away, the whole deal sounds like a classic money pit.
Don't people really want a governor who knows how to stretch a dollar?
I will make my big announcement that I'm "running for governor of the great state of California" and nobody will really care --- at first. How will the big bucks be blown?
Out of my massive campaign war chest, I will budget 1-percent for advertising. That's it. A million bucks, and that will only be necessary in the beginning of my gubernatorial campaign. The big publicity will come later.
After forking out some of the cash for security to accompany me, I will pick the economically poorest town in California to visit. The local newspaper, TV, radio reporters and bloggers will be part of my entourage as I recruit the homeless to help with my visit.
Our little group will hit the nearest supermarket in town, where negotiations will occur for the purchase of food, diapers, formula, toiletries and other basic necessities --- in bulk. Once a reasonable deal has been struck with the store, the spending begins.
The rented U-Haul trucks will be loaded-up by our group, which will head for the homeless shelters, the food banks, the senior centers and the streets, where necessities of life will be delivered with a smile.
Then, it's off to the local Salvation Army or Goodwill thrift stores for clothing. Free clothes for the needy. As a public candidate, I will be happy to model my latest campaign outfit for the cameras. My whole campaign wardrobe will be strictly hand-me-downs.
Local economic stimulus without government strings. Cool!
This type of exciting campaigning will be repeated in town after town, and city after city, across the Golden State. Other media outlets in the state will pick it up and run with it. A story like this "has legs". Before long, the nation and the world will be talking about the campaign.
At that point, the media will gladly hear my platform --- at no charge.
Free media coverage. Massive name recognition. Excited voters. A growing movement. Magazine covers. Landslide victory. Big changes.
With the bulk of the $100-million going into the stomachs and onto the backs of real people, Californians will be challenged to do the same in their own communities --- by example.
In this scenario, popularity is guaranteed. Californians like happiness. It attracts massive support. Good feelings spread quickly. Smiles are contagious. Children and dogs like you. You're in.
Real people with real budgets don't quite appreciate the insanity, though.
Even little kids can figure out a way to get attention for free, so why squander economic resources to feed media networks instead of hungry Californians?
Do you love living in California? Now you can tell the entire world about how great the Golden State really is.
All Californians can share what living in the Golden State means as part of the "Your Piece of California, Your Peace of Mind." California Association of Realtors new advertising campaign.
"Californians can go to YourPieceOfCalifornia.com and share what they love about living here via their Facebook or Twitter accounts," explains the association's president Steve Goddard.
"This is a great opportunity to tell their stories about what makes California special to them."
Silicon Valley tech billionaire Marc Benioff and his wife Lynne have donated $100 million to the building of a Bay Area children's hospital.
The University of California at San Francisco hospital complex, set to open in 2014, is said to be the focus of the Benioffs' philanthropy through the year 2020.
The 15-acre hospital complex will include a cancer center, women's hospital and children's hospital, and it will be called the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
Formerly with Oracle and Apple, San Francisco native Marc Benioff is Chairman & CEO of Salesforce.com, a Cloud Computing company he started in 1999 in a rented Bay Area apartment.
The billionaire author of the books Compassionate Capitalism, The Business of Changing the World, and Behind the Cloud plans to give away most of his self-made fortune while he is living.
The University of Southern California business graduate has been recognized for building partnerships between business and society. The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy presented Benioff with the Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award.
Marc Benioff was appointed by President George W. Bush as the co-chairman of the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee, and supervised the publishing of critical reports on health care information technology, cybersecurity, and computational sciences.
The Salesforce.com Foundation contributes 1-percent of company profits, 1-percent of equity, and 1-percent of employee hours back to the communities Salesforce serves.
Leo J. Ryan was a California politician who served as a U.S. Representative from the Bay Area until he was assassinated. Ryan is the only congressman ever killed in the line of duty.
Leo Ryan served as a teacher and South San Francisco city councilman. Ryan was later elected mayor of South San Francisco before serving in the California State Assembly. After that, he was elected four times to the U.S. Congress.
Congressman Ryan was an outspoken critic of Scientology, Sun Myung Moon, Jim Jones, and the CIA. On November 3, 1977, Ryan read into the U.S. Congressional Record a testimony about the health hazards connected with destructive cults.
Ryan also criticized the lack of Congressional oversight of the CIA. He co-wrote the Hughes-Ryan Act, which required the President to report all covert CIA operations to Congressional committees.
Leo Ryan was assassinated after flying to Guyana to investigate reports of widespread abuse and human rights violations against Californians at Jonestown among the Peoples Temple, led by cult leader Jim Jones.
Ryan had previously criticized L. Ron Hubbard's Scientology movement and the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon. In a speech before Congress, Ryan stated that his greatest concern was: "for those young people who have been converted by these religious cults and for their parents, who have suffered the loss of their children".
Corresponding with a parent of a young cult member, Congressman Ryan thanked the parent for her "detailed letter regarding Scientology", saying "We haven't yet found a way to attack these jackals who feed on children and young adults who are too emotionally weak to stand by themselves when they reach the age of consent".
In November of 1978, Ryan announced that he would visit Jonestown as part of a government investigation. He made the journey as chairman of a congressional subcommittee with jurisdiction over U.S. citizens living in foreign countries.
Ryan asked the other members of his Bay Area congressional delegation to join him. They refused. He then asked his friend and colleague Dan Quayle to accompany him, but Quayle declined.
Congressman Ryan traveled to Jonestown with 17 Bay Area relatives of Peoples Temple members, several newspaper reporters and an NBC television team. Ryan declared that if the situation in Jonestown had become "a gulag", he would do everything he could to "free the captives".
Despite confirmed reservations, most of Leo Ryan's hotel rooms in Guyana had been canceled and reassigned, leaving his delegation to sleep on the lobby floor. Over three days, Leo Ryan negotiated with Jim Jones' legal counsel and held meetings with Guyanese officials.
Ryan demanded to speak to Jim Jones by radio, but was flatly refused.
The 'welcome' at Jonestown turned ugly after Temple member Vernon Gosney handed a note to NBC correspondent Don Harris which stated, "Please help me get out of Jonestown".
Shortly thereafter, a failed knife attack on Congressman Ryan occurred while he was arbitrating a family dispute on leaving. Against Ryan's protests, he was threatened and ordered to get out of Guyana immediately.
Soon after, assassins opened fire on the transport plane, killing Congressman Ryan, three journalists and an escaping Temple member, while wounding nine others. The gunmen riddled Congressman Ryan's body with bullets before shooting up his face.
Once Congressman Ryan was "out of the way", nearly 1,000 people were immediately massacred at Jonestown. Ryan died trying to save them.
Leo Ryan was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for sacrificing his life to save his fellow Californians. U.S. President and former California Governor Ronald Reagan presented the distinguished award in Leo Ryan's memory. Reagan called the occasion "one of the proudest moments of my life".
Leo J. Ryan was one hell of a Californian --- a fearless hero who should never be forgotten.
California is leading the push for bringing electric cars to the marketplace and onto the freeways, but will average Californians buy into it?
The State of California has created economic incentives to encourage Californians to buy electric cars, but will electric cars run out of juice before reaching a place to recharge?
The state, using taxpayers' money, is backing an expensive network of charging stations intended to calm fears.
Sacramento is subsidizing more than 5,000 charging stations that should be in operation by 2012 --- more than in any other state. The goal is to have 7,500 all-electric and 25,000 plug-in hybrid cars on California freeways by 2014, rising to 60,000 electrics and 85,000 plug-in hybrids by 2017.
Coulomb Technologies Inc will build 1,600 charging stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, and Arizona's eTec is installing 2,550 Southern California vehicle charging points.
Major retailers are also investing in charging stations. Some retail shopping locations will offer the power for free as a way to attract customers.
South Coast Plaza, the famous mall in Costa Mesa, has installed two charging stations that provide free service. Few shoppers actually use it.
"California is leading the way," proclaims Sue Cischke, Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering for the Ford Motor Company. Ford is testing a battery-powered version of its Transit Connect delivery van, which the company will start mass-producing in 2011.
California's lead in preparing for electric cars makes it the focal point to see if budget-weary Californians are willing to invest in their own "green" transportation.
Today, only 1,100 electric cars are on California freeways, including the $110,000 Tesla sports car.
Most average California consumers see electric cars as too costly right now, and many also point out that the state has a larger local supply of oil than electricity. Others fear that electrical grids are too vulnerable to sudden outage, attack and 'government manipulation'.
While the state offers up to $5,000 in rebates for private vehicles, and up to $20,000 for commercial vehicles (on top of the federal government's $7,500 tax credit), the money for these rebates already comes from taxpayers' pockets --- and taxes are bound to go up.
How many average California citizens are really willing to invest any further in a taxpayer-funded 'Green Utopia'?
The Bay Area's Silicon Valley is experiencing the beginning of the next real estate boom --- and expensive homes are changing hands quickly.
The median price of houses sold in Silicon Valley's Santa Clara County rose by a healthy 23-percent in May compared with a year earlier to $585,000. More sales of homes in expensive neighborhoods, along with fewer low-priced post-foreclosure sales, made things jump.
The volume of home sales also jumped last month from a lackluster April, with 1,464 houses being sold. Up 24-percent from April, and up 21-percent from May 2009, the numbers are encouraging signs of California's economic recovery.
These latest figures were gathered from public records of completed transactions by DataQuick, an MDA company from San Diego.
DataQuick President of DataQuick, John Walsh, said that federal and state tax credits, along with low mortgage rates, helped pump up sales volume.
"For now, at least, we're seeing a more normal mix of sales across the region and across price categories," Walsh stated.
In the Bay Area, 41-percent of the homes sold last month cost at least a half-million dollars, up from 37-percent in April.
Condominium sales and prices also rose last month in Santa Clara County. The median price of condos sold was $360,000, up 28-percent from May 2009, with sales volume showing a 27-percent increase.
In San Mateo County, the median home price rose to $673,000, while Alameda County's median home price shot up by a surprising 31-percent to $433,000.
Candidate for California Governor Chelene Nightingale is invincible. At least that's what the growing number of Nightingale for Governor supporters are proclaiming.
Nightingale, the conservative gubernatorial candidate, is defying convention as she continues to attract frustrated California voters who have no interest in voting for gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman nor Jerry Brown in this November's general election.
What is so attractive about Chelene Nightingale as a candidate for governor of California?
The Chelene Nightingale Phenomenon
Some supporters say that Nightingale is Joan of Arc, while others say she's Mary Magdalene. The candidate has been compared in the media to Sarah Palin, Wonder Woman, Susan B. Anthony, Oprah, Batgirl and Margaret Thatcher.
What my colleagues and I have heard most consistently about Chelene Nightingale is that she is the political equivalent of the Beatles in California. Her appeal to "take back California" and her bold speaking style have made Nightingale a popular headliner at Tea Party rallies.
Nightingale's Victory Energizes Voters
Chelene Nightingale's recent victory in the California Primary Election has energized California's voters who are demanding the state's strict adherence to the Constitution and immigration laws. She is said to be the most conservative gubernatorial candidate in the U.S. today.
Nightingale's dedication of her gubernatorial campaign to God has her more popular with religious voters than any candidate since Ronald Reagan. Christian fundamentalists, Catholics and Jews comprise the bulk of the 'Nightingale for Governor' campaign's supporters.
Chelene Nightingale has stated that she is eager to debate fellow gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman "anytime and anywhere". While her campaign faces well-funded opposition from the Republican and Democrat parties, Nightingale's confidence is unwavering.
"This election --- more than any other --- will be about freedom from tyranny. The time for elitists and bureaucrats is over. It's about 'We The People' again in California and across our nation. We are taking back our state for the sake of our kids," Nightingale told me by phone yesterday.
Nightingale continued, "You know, things were very different for me before I became a wife and mother. Now, there's nothing I won't do to protect my family. Nothing. I am giving everything I've got to make sure that every kid in California has a shot at freedom. Our founding fathers would expect no less from us."
California's Gutsy Candidate for Governor
Nightingale has recently stated that she, as Governor Nightingale, would forcibly turn the Central Valley's water supply back on herself.
She would dare anyone, including the federal government, to try and stop her from giving Central Valley farmers the water they need to grow food for the people.
The controversial gubernatorial candidate has even stated that once she is elected Governor of California, and has command of the California State Military, she would send California troops to man the state's southern border immediately.
You can't say that Chelene Nightingale isn't a fighter. That's probably why she's popular.
Bakersfield is rumbling. California's most conservative city is fighting back against economic hard times with faith, hard work, and a plan to accommodate one million residents over the next decade.
California's Great Central Valley, world famous for oil and agriculture, is the hardest-working part of the Golden State. It is frequently referred to as "the other California". The southern half of the Great Valley is known as the San Joaquin Valley. Its largest city is Bakersfield.
Bakersfield: Conservative Mecca
Bakersfield has long been the butt of statewide jokes for its perceived lack of glamor. Other areas of California, such as Beverly Hills, Palm Springs and Santa Barbara, have long enjoyed favorable press coverage while Bakersfield is seen as being "different".
The City of Bakersfield is very different, indeed.
Affectionately called "Bako" by locals, the city is the most conservative city in the entire state of California. It comes as no shock that a city with historically high numbers of migrants from the Bible Belt would wear its staunch conservatism like a badge of honor.
Bakersfield cast more than 75-percent of its votes in favor of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage and, in the last presidential election, Barack Hussein Obama was not seen as a "messiah" by any stretch. Bakersfield is all about hard work, homespun values, faith and family.
Bakersfield Speaks Out
I drove up to Bakersfield from Los Angeles last weekend and spent time at a local diner. Talking with around 30 local residents, I found the people to be colorful, folksy and humorous, but very realistic about life in general.
We "chewed the fat" over numerous social, political, spiritual and economic issues facing average Bakersfield voters. These "salt of the earth". "by the bootstraps", "rubber meets the road" folks were outspoken and very clear about their concerns.
Tired of hearing about "hope" and "change", and seeing nothing substantial materialize, Bakersfield residents are taking matters into their own hands. Their city has been hit so hard by the Great Recession that many in the media have called Bakersfield "America's Recession Epicenter" and "Economic Ground Zero".
Bakersfield's famous work ethic is now bolstered by a renewed optimism and enthusiasm for the future. Counting their blessings, local citizens are starting to look at what's RIGHT with Bakersfield --- and capitalize from it.
A Growing Metropolis
The city is the largest in Kern County, the most oil productive county in the U.S., with 10-percent of America’s domestic production. The county ranks in the top-five for most productive agricultural counties in the nation.
Corporations are relocating to Bakersfield due to local business-friendly policies, affordable real estate and tax savings. The city even has the largest ice cream plant in America --- so it's officially kid-approved.
A Professional Perspective
I wanted further insight on Bakersfield society from a community-involved professional. I met with Richard Beene, President/CEO of The Bakersfield Californian, which is the largest newspaper in the region.
Born in Tennessee and raised in Georgia, Beene presides over his company's six publications and numerous other holdings.
Richard Beene joined The Bakersfield Californian after seven years with The Los Angeles Times, where he shared the Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 1992 L.A. Riots and the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Beene previously worked in Mexico City for The Dallas Times Herald, in Madrid for the Spanish news agency EFE, and in Cairo, New York and Atlanta for United Press International (UPI). He had seen the world since he graduated with a History/Journalism degree from Georgia Southern University.
From all of the most glamorous locales on earth, what made Richard Beene choose Bakersfield, California --- and stay for the last 16 years?
"I was lured by an offer that sounded great but, honestly, I was a little apprehensive about moving to Bakersfield," said Beene. "I had heard talk about the town --- oil and agriculture, dusty and dirty, lack of culture. When I moved here, I found it to be the perfect place to raise my kids and enjoy a much better quality of life."
As Richard Beene talked about why he loves living in Bakersfield, he was passionate, optimistic and, at moments, misty-eyed. He was so gung-ho in his enthusiasm for the city that he sounded like he would be the perfect mayor for Bakersfield.
In Love With Bakersfield
"This city is the most under-rated place to live in California. The people are warm and welcoming. You can get as involved in the community as you like, and it's a wonderful community for work and play. The schools, the neighborhoods and the restaurants are the best. I love it here," said Beene.
I asked Richard Beene how safe Bakersfield is, as it is now considered to be a major metro area with a projected population of one million in 2020.
"Bakersfield has certainly grown tremendously but, amazingly, the city still has a small town feel to it. It's like "Leave It To Beaver" or "Mayberry". Kids are always playing outside and there's a lot of walking and bicycle riding every day. In fact, I ride my bike 200 miles each week locally," Beene replied.
Beene went on to describe Bakersfield's educational environment and its opportunities for the city's youngest residents.
"A few years ago, Bakersfield was honored with a new president of California State University-Bakersfield, Horace Mitchell. His distinguished influence here has generated a heightened interest in a university education among our youth. Our community college is fantastic as well. We've got great schools and wonderful opportunities here," said Beene.
Bakersfield's Proudest Blogger
On Richard Beene's personal blog, Bakersfield Observed, the feeling is like a small town newspaper in The South. In a way that is folksy, emotional and honest, Beene addresses topics in a different manner than that of his newspaper, The Bakersfield Californian.
On Bakersfield's #1 blog, Beene is passionate in his coverage of local university graduates returning home to raise families after being lured away by tempting opportunities elsewhere.
He proudly, and publicly, announces each return home like the prodigal father.
Beene states, "It's one of the greatest pleasures for me, and our whole community, to announce the return of our kids who left Bakersfield. Our kids are highly educated and fully capable professionals. After being lured by an 'opportunity of a lifetime' away from home, many are returning home to find family values, affordable real estate, and new opportunities spurred on by the city's growth."
Bakersfield's Comeback
Richard Beene agrees with other local residents regarding the ambitious, hard-working nature of the city. Bakersfield is ending The Great Recession on its own terms, evolving past its old image of oil fields and honky-tonks, and forging its society into a leading 21st century city.
Beene exclaims, "Our city is one of the great California cities. Our biggest successes are in front of us. Bakersfield can, and will, make it happen."
Richard Aguirre, the former Democratic candidate for California governor, is overwhelmed by the number of votes he received in the California Primary --- and he is very thankful.
Aguirre may have lost his gubernatorial bid to rivals Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown but, like the Terminator, he'll be back. He has stated that he will be an even stronger candidate for governor of California in 2014.
In his latest video, Richard Aguirre thanked his many California supporters who cast their votes for his New California Prosperity Plan. He stated that his fight had just begun for a gubernatorial victory four years from now.
Aguirre called me today to thank Californiality for objectively covering his 2010 campaign. I assured him that anything newsworthy from the Aguirre camp would always be featured respectfully, as readers have accepted him as a regular on this blog.
Richard Aguirre is busy wrapping up a feature-length film about his campaign, writing a book about the economic plan that made him famous, and meeting with some California political leaders about developments to be revealed soon.
Stay tuned for more about California's most unconventional surfer.
California earthquakes have been increasing at an alarming rate lately. Are Californians living in panic of 'The Big One' every moment? No way.
Just ask Cass Elliot.
Surviving the next California earthquake isn't really what's on the mind of an average Californian. Quakes are just part of the scenery like palm trees. It's part of the price paid for living in Paradise.
Seismic thrusts, fault lines and aftershocks are just words, like "Have a nice day". Sure, people know more earthquakes will come, but why dwell on it every day? California living is fun, so thinking about the next California earthquake is a total bummer.
"California Earthquake" is a song by Cass Elliot that typifies this attitude most succinctly. She expressed how most Californians feel in a 1968 interview with Rolling Stone:
_________________________________
"There’s a song in my album called 'California Earthquake' and the opening line is:"
'I heard they exploded the underground blast / What they say is gonna happen is gonna happen at last / That’s the way it appears / They tell me the fault line runs right through here / So that may be, that may be / What’s gonna happen is gonna happen to me / That’s the way it appears.'
"That's where it's at. My sister is a part-time clairvoyant. She says 'Get the baby out of here; move to Kansas'. I say, 'Look, I’m here now. There must be a reason I’m here.' If that’s fatalistic, be that as it may. Where my work is, is where my life is, and if we’re falling into the ocean, we’re falling into the ocean."
"The second verse says:"
'Atlantis will rise / Sunset Boulevard will fall / Where the beach used to be won't be nothin' at all'.
"And what could be more timely than that? It’s where it's at."
- Cass Elliott
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Cass pretty much summed it up. What will be will be. To concentrate on California's next earthquake, before it strikes, would be to miss out on how fantastic California is every single day.
Bay Area business leaders are excited about the Northern California region's economic outlook, according to the latest survey by the local business group, the Bay Area Council.
Feelings about the economy are riding high from San Francisco and Oakland to San Jose and Palo Alto.
The quarterly poll by the Bay Area Council, just released, showed that business confidence among Bay Area CEOs and top executives is at its highest level in a half-decade, with the confidence index rising to 62 out of 100, up from 55 the previous quarter and from its lowest level of 31 early last year.
The newest Bay Area Council survey is the third positive one in a row since the summer of '09, and local economy watchers are thrilled.
"We're seeing the Bay Area economy pull itself out of the recession and heading towards more job growth," said Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council.
The responses of the 500 CEOs and top executives surveyed in the Bay Area show that the majority think Bay Area economic conditions are better than six months ago, and they expect a better Bay Area economy six months from now.
"We're starting to see some upturn in venture capital funding, Tesla coming to NUMMI is great news, and we have all this buzz over the iPad and iPhone and their apps, along with growth at Google and Facebook. We're going in the right direction," said Stephen Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy.
The Bay Area has a lower rate of unemployment than the rest of California, due to the region's three techs --- biotech, cleantech and high tech --- and local businesses are seeing people start to spend money in ways not seen in years.
Confidence in the Bay Area's economy is high.
"Our clients are feeling much more confident about where the economy is heading. We're hiring, and financial services are beginning to blossom again," says Mark Edmunds, a Bay Area executive with the auditing firm Deloitte.
"There's a lot of economic activity with China and especially Shanghai, and we're hoping the new Tesla plant will lead to really big things. With our local ecosystem of venture capital, entrepreneurs and a great work force, the Bay Area should be the center of the universe in cleantech," stated an enthusiastic Edmunds.
Bay Area workers share the new enthusiasm of the region's business leaders.
Cassandra, a commission sales associate at a Silicon Valley retail store, told Californiality.com that her customer base is expanding and that her regular clients are spending more.
"I can really see that our local Bay Area economy is starting to jump. It's about time. For the past year, I've been borrowing money from friends all over San Jose to make ends meet. Now, I've paid them all back. I'm actually making enough in commissions to save for a new house. I'm loving California again," said Cassandra.
Yosemite National Park is a national park in Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California. Yosemite totally rocks!
Yosemite covers over 761,000 acres and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This year, four million people will visit Yosemite, which was designated a World Heritage Site in the 1980s.
Yosemite's granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, scenic Half Dome, Giant Sequoias, biological diversity, peace and serenity make it a perfect California destination for camping, fishing and relaxing.
Almost all of Yosemite is designated wilderness.
A California paradise, Yosemite was key in the development of the national park concept, because of famous California nature preservationists Galen Clark and John Muir.
Nothing beats Yosemite for clearing the mind and activating the imagination.
Yosemite National Park is all about totally relaxing and unwinding --- and Californians could certainly use a little relaxation, solitude and peace of mind these days.
Abby Sunderland is everyone's daughter, sister, friend and superhero today.
The teenage California sailor may have come short of her goal of a solo non-stop navigation of the globe by sailboat, but Abby touched hearts in every nation.
When the news first broke that Abby Sunderland was lost at sea without any communication or navigation ability, her home town of Thousand Oaks, California went into shock.
Thousands in the Conejo Valley had been monitoring Abby's progress for five months --- prayerfully. Her disappearance off the radar after an S.O.S. horrified the community.
Churches began vigils. Prayer groups went into overdrive. Emails and calls spread across the planet. News updates blared. Dr. Laura Schlessinger shed tears on radio airwaves. At restaurants, gas stations, shopping malls, gyms, schools and workplaces, everyone talked about Abby.
When folks heard about the 30-foot waves and hurricane force winds in the pitch black night, they couldn't justify a 16-year-old girl thousands of miles from help, crying in fear with nobody there. People were insane with worry.
Yesterday, a black cloud hung over Thousand Oaks, California.
Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Shintos, Native Americans, Hindus, New Agers and Agnostics were sending prayers, energy, light, vibrations, chants, affirmations, scriptures, hopes and wishes out to Abby --- wherever she was.
Californians came together.
After hundreds upon hundreds of news updates in the media, over many hours, the good news finally started to break.
A great many people now share in the joy of Abby's family who can't wait to have her back home in Thousand Oaks among people who know and love her.
Even though Abby Sunderland didn't sail completely around the globe in her boat, she reached the whole planet like nobody has before.
Abby Sunderland is the most famous California Girl in the world today. Katy Perry is, on the same day, the most famous California Gurl. The irony is striking.
Abby Sunderland is the young Southern California sailor whose solo navigation around the globe has been cut short by a storm that might have killed her. Her survival is the #1 story in the U.S. today.
Katy Perry is the young Southern California singer whose song, "California Gurls", has navigated the Billboard Hot 100 chart all the way to the top in record-breaking time. Her recording is the #1 song in the U.S. today.
Abby is from upscale Thousand Oaks, while Katy is from upscale Santa Barbara. Both California cities are on the same U.S. Highway 101, just 55 minutes apart.
Miss Sunderland is the media's "California Girl" and Miss Perry is the media's "California Gurl". Both young women are presently experiencing a massive outpouring of support, affection and accolades, but is it all for different reasons?
Both Abby Sunderland and Katy Perry are both from devout Christian families. Each girl's individual search for her own spiritual identity takes a path perceived by observers as being 'dangerous'.
Is there a safe path on the journey to individual fulfillment, though?
Both of these young public figures are Californians, but could they symbolize the dichotomy that is today's Golden State? The survivor and the superstar? The brave and the brazen? Profane holiness and holy profanity?
The 2010 California candidates for governor must participate in an open California Candidates Roundtable before the November 2nd General Election.
After much debate and discussion with political strategists and candidates, Californiality has sketched an outline of a televised roundtable format to publicly address solutions for the State of California.
The Californiality Plan
The format accommodates a two-hour specially televised program which would publicly showcase positive and innovative solutions to issues, procedures and difficulties that stand in the way of California's progress and prosperity as a state.
With no studio audience, a total of eleven (11) people would participate in the program:
1 current California governor
1 current California secretary of state
3 former California governors
6 candidates for California governor
The current governor of California would serve as the Master of Ceremonies, as he is not a current gubernatorial candidate. (Otherwise, the lieutenant governor would serve as the MC.) He would open the program, introduce the current candidates for governor, then close the program at its conclusion.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
The current Secretary of State would serve as the presiding authority who maintains order during the roundtable session. She would exercise the right to excuse any gubernatorial candidate who disrupts the constructive flow of ideas from the roundtable. (The Secretary of State already presides over elections.)
Secretary of State Debra Bowen
The three former California governors would serve as a panel of experts who have held the position which the current gubernatorial candidates now seek. The panel would ask questions, prompt for clarifications, and would be allowed to briefly comment on answers. (Jerry Brown would be ineligible to serve on the panel due to his status as a current candidate.)
Former Governor George Deukmejian
Former Governor Pete Wilson
Former Governor Gray Davis
The six nominated candidates for California governor would all be seated at the roundtable, dressed in identical clothing tops of the same color. Uniformity would draw attention to each candidate's IDEAS free of fashion and color distractions.
During the first half of the program, every candidate would be allowed a full four (4) minutes, uninterrupted, to describe their best idea(s) for creating positive change for the State of California.
During the second half of the program, every candidate would be allowed a full four (4) minutes to commend their favorite idea(s) heard from other candidates at the roundtable.
Any negative criticism or attacks against fellow candidates would result in being immediately excused from the session by the gavel of the Secretary of State. The positive flow of ideas must be absolutely paramount.
Every candidate for California governor would have the opportunity to have his/her best ideas heard before all Californians in a democratic atmosphere of equity, decorum and respect.
Carlos Alvarez
Jerry Brown
Chelene Nightingale
Dale Ogden
Laura Wells
Meg Whitman
The two-hour televised format would allow time for all eleven program participants to be featured respectfully.
Whether the California Candidates Roundtable program is broadcast on a public television network (such as C-SPAN or PBS), or on a commercial network (such as CNN or FOX), the program would be an effective way of educating California voters on the candidates and their ideas for governing.
Viewers who might be unable to view the broadcast LIVE could view the program later on an internet video site (such as YouTube).
Supporters of democracy would certainly recognize the benefit of such an open and democratic forum of innovative ideas before the general public. In our current age, such a program would certainly be watched by other U.S. states as well as by nations around the world.
Every idea deserves a hearing and every voter deserves accurate information.
The Beach Boys are synonymous with California. The sound of surf, sand and summer lives on in perpetual Californiality.
One of the greatest rock bands in world history, the Beach Boys are the original California ambassadors to the world, responsible for embedding the Golden State into humanity's imagination --- and keeping it there.
Officially recognized by Billboard as "The #1 Selling American Band Of All Time", the Beach Boys have cruised the Hot 100 chart a whopping 56 times. The group has had more Top 40 hits than any other U.S. rock band, and they have hit the #1 position on the charts repeatedly.
The Beach Boys played their first paid gig on New Year's Eve in 1961 as a supporting act for headliners Ike and Tina Turner before a packed audience of African-American teenagers.
That concert was one of the hottest tickets in the history of music for those lucky enough to have been there.
Where else could a bunch of white kids singing about surfing gain instant support from an all-black audience? Only in California, the capitol of racial and cultural diversity. Ironic, too, is that Tina Turner went on to enjoy her greatest success as a rock singer supported by white audiences.
Before he became a superstar in his own right, Glen Campbell was a Beach Boy in 1964 and 1965. Funny, isn't it? The legendary 'Rhinestone Cowboy' was one of the Beach Boys? Stranger still, is that Toni Tennille (Captain & Tennille) sang for a brief time as the only Beach Girl in the group.
In one of the biggest events in U.S. history, the Beach Boys played before a record breaking audience of 750,000 fans at the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush cheered along as fans at the historic '80s event which was recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records.
It's mind-blowing to think that a quarter million people showed up at the U.S. Capitol to hear songs about California performed by some guys from an L.A. suburb. Talk about a California Dream come true!
I have been a Beach Boys fan all my life, so it was a great moment for me to have played their biggest hit ever, "Kokomo", for the first time at a Southern California radio station I worked at in 1988. I knew it would be gigantic.
The monster #1 single was co-written by John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas, "San Francisco" singer Scott McKenzie, and legendary record producer Terry Melcher, the son of superstar Doris Day.
It just doesn't get anymore 'California' than that.
Brian Wilson, the chief songwriter, producer, arranger, composer and leader of the Beach Boys is called "one of the few undisputed geniuses in popular music" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That is an understatement.
When it comes to positive California vibrations, nobody beats the Beach Boys. The biggest group in California history has made the Golden State more golden, more fun, and more famous than it ever was before.
Every day is a carefree summer day anytime and anywhere a Beach Boys song plays on earth.
Here are some of the best quotations about California.
Some are funny quotes, and some are serious, but they're all about California, which many still refer to as "The Granola State --- Fruits, Nuts and Flakes".
Californians sometimes chuckle at how bizarre the rest of the world sees the Golden State and its people --- plastic skin, fake tans and all. The Land of The Beautiful People is still the most talked about place of all.
How many of the following observations on California would you agree with?
"In California, they don't throw their garbage away - they make it into TV shows." - Woody Allen
"As one went to Europe to see the living past, so one must visit Southern California to observe the future." - Alison Lurie
"All creative people should be required to leave California for three months every year." - Gloria Swanson
"Adultery - which is the only grounds for divorce in New York - is not grounds for divorce in California. As a matter of fact, adultery in Southern California is grounds for marriage." - Allan Sherman
"California lacks a lot of the rules and restrictions the East has. Every house is a different style, different material, different color. There's a lot of craziness out there." - Parker Stevenson
"In Los Angeles, all the loose objects in the country were collected as if America had been tilted and everything that wasn't tightly screwed down had slid into Southern California." - Saul Bellow
"Everything is just better in California - the wine, the food, fruits and vegetables, the comforts of living. Even the instrumentalists are generous and curious. Everything is wonderful." - Beth Anderson
"Growing up in northern California has had a big influence on my love and respect for the outdoors. When I lived in Oakland, we would think nothing of driving to Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz one day and then driving to the foothills of the Sierras the next day." - Tom Hanks
"Helsinki may not be as cold as you make it out to be, but California is still a lot nicer. I don't remember the last time I couldn't walk around in shorts all day." - Linus Torvalds
"I arrived in California with no job, no car, and no money, but, like millions of other girls, a dream." - Victoria Principal
"I grew up on the beaches of Southern California surfing and sailing and I've always loved horses so it was part of my dream that I was able to fulfill to have horses." - Bo Derek
"I will embrace the first opportunity to get to California and it is altogether probable that when once there I shall never again leave it." - George Stoneman
"If there was any other place I would live, other than Miami, it would be California. It's beautiful. The weather is just gorgeous, I love being here, too." - Jon Secada
"If they can't do it in California, it can't be done anywhere." - Taylor Caldwell
"It shone on everyone, whether they had a contract or not. The most democratic thing I'd ever seen, that California sunshine." - Angela Carter
"No wonder the film industry started in the desert in California where, like all desert dwellers, they dream their buildings, rather than design them." - Arthur Erickson
"One of the things I had a hard time getting used to when I came to California in '78 was Santa Claus in shorts." - Dennis Franz
"There is science, logic, reason; there is thought verified by experience. And then there is California." - Edward Abbey
"When the Oakies left Oklahoma and moved to California, it raised the I.Q. of both states." - Will Rogers
"This is California. Blondes are like the state flower or something." - Ian Ziering, 90210
"Californians invented the concept of lifestyle. This alone warrants their doom." - Don DeLillo
"The formula for a happy marriage? It's the same as the one for living in California: when you find a fault, don't dwell on it." - Jay Trachman
"You haven't lived until you've died in California." - Mort Sahl
The California economy or the U.S. economy --- which will grow faster in 2011? An economic expert from corporate America is betting on California.
Now the seventh-largest economic superpower in the world, California may grow faster than the United States next year, according to Dana Johnson, a chief economist from Comerica Inc., who expresses optimism.
"California tends to be more cyclically sensitive than the national economy, suffering more in downturns but growing more rapidly during expansions," said Johnson.
"With California further along in rebalancing its housing sector than the nation, the odds are growing that later this year or early in 2011, the state will get a bigger boost from homebuilding and could begin outperforming national trends."
California’s unemployment rate fell during previous recoveries, compared with the U.S. average, as the state added jobs at a quicker pace than the United States. Today, the California housing market is showing signs of improvement with rising prices and dwindling foreclosures.
The number of residential building permits being issued in California is outpacing the U.S., and the massive $2-trillion economy in California shows no signs of slowing down.
California has a track record of doing worse in recessions than the U.S., but the Golden State does better during booms than the rest of the nation, as stated recently by Jed Kolko, an economist with the Public Policy Institute of California.
When California's economy recharges, like it is doing now, it does so with larger costs in tow for consumers and businesses than anywhere else. California, in essence, must flex a muscle twice as big as others to be seen as strengthening.
The fact that California's economy is growing stronger encourages many, including other American states, who still follow California in many respects. California still leads.
The 'California Sound' has morphed through every music genre imaginable. Each generation redefines the musical style that represents California, but is it possible to unite everything into one cool sound?
The answer is 'yes' according to the growing fanbase of the group, Old Californio.
Southern California based Old Californio accurately captures the feel of California like so many local bands have done over the years. What makes this group different is that they use a '60s and '70s folk-rock style to showcase lyrics that sound like poetry from the 1800s Gold Rush era.
Surprisingly weird, but excellently done.
Old Californio is professional, tight and trippy. Listeners find their sound difficult to categorize yet easy to enjoy --- and to listen to repeatedly. I know. Over the holiday weekend, my friends insisted that we listen to one of Old Californio's songs over and over.
Nobody knew who the group was, but their song, "Are You Coming Home", quickly became the favorite of our gathering. Now everybody wants a whole album to hear the rest of the group's songs. In the meantime, we visited the Old Californio Channel on YouTube to check out our new favorite group.
Old Californio consists of Rich Dembowski, Jason Chesney, Justin Smith, Levi Nunez and Woody Aplanalp. They hail from Pasadena, California. I can't wait to meet them in person.
As we all know, most musical acts totally suck when performing "live". Old Californio sounds great "live", the songs are so unusual and unique, and the band draws viewers inside with an intimate vibe. It's like you're really in the room with them and you totally belong like an insider.
For me and my pals, watching Old Californio jam inside a simple room is like hanging out in a recording studio with The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Monkees, David Crosby, Neil Young, John Sebastian, The Eagles, an 1849 gold miner and a '90s alternative rock band at Mama Cass Elliot's Laurel Canyon home in 1969.
The sound is very old, very new, casually-hip, very cool, and so 'California'.
Old Californio's latest album, Westering Again, concentrates on California themes while it restructures the 'California Sound' for a new generation. It is, truly, an instant classic. The album is definitely a collectible for connoisseurs of California music worldwide.
If you're outside of the Golden State, you will get a realistic 'feel' for what it's like to be here by listening to the album. It appeals to music fans of the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and today. You'll play the album over and over like everyone else who hears it for the first time. Seriously.
I was recently turned on to this great group by a friend who thought I might really like Old Californio's sound. I totally dig it.
#1 California Poem on the Internet Exclusively on Californiality.com
"I AM CALIFORNIA"
I am the creative genesis persisting amid chaos; the idea made manifest.
I am the eternal state of "becoming".
Ever changing, morphing and mutating, my essence reflects the mind of my Creator.
Purity, perfection and productivity are my principles.
I am innovation; the perennially new. I am relentless forward momentum.
I am the unity of the spiritual, the mental and the physical. I am symmetry and balance.
I am the created who recreates; the blessed who blesses; the beloved who loves without prejudice.
I am expression; the vision seen; the voice heard; the thought interpreted.
Races, religions and cultures are my colors, hues and shades. Variety is my lifeblood.
I am the portrait of humanity which beckons an impassioned brush stroke from every hand.
I am relationship; always conversing, sharing, belonging, reciprocating, accepting and providing.
I am contrary; an oasis in the desert; order from chaos; beauty from ashes; hope from despair; unity from diversity; light from darkness.
I am information, communication, technology and intelligence always seeking Wisdom.
Ever the student of the Eternal, I instruct willing minds through my failures and successes.
I am the experience; the be-in; the adventure; the journey; the trip. I am interactivity and participation.
I am the ultimate; the zenith; the apex; the extreme; the max. Limitless minds are my companions into the timeless unknown.
I am to be merged with; not to simply be admired from afar. My visions are to be shared; my dreams are to be realized; my desires are to be consummated.
I am the fruit of ambition, effort and achievement. I am the rarest wine to be tasted, savored and thoroughly enjoyed, not merely collected.
Golden, priceless and breathtaking, I am the star-studded dream, the quaking vision, and the imagination on fire.
The California Cities of Service mayors met to learn and share innovative strategies to harness the power of volunteers to help address critical community needs in the Golden State. The meeting included an exercise on developing city service plans and cultivating business partnerships.
