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From: mom@sfmag.UUCP (M.Modig)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: re Califoo
Message-ID: <724@sfmag.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 5-Oct-85 13:57:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: sfmag.724
Posted: Sat Oct  5 13:57:36 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Oct-85 06:57:05 EDT
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> As far as I'm concerned, one needs leather lungs to live in
> Los Angeles (..and let's not kid ourselves--SoCal and greater LA
> are identical). Anyone who can breathe what they call "air" down
> there is one tough bird. All other attributes of SoCal/LA pale
> into insignificance when compared to smog as an issue (no pun
> intended...).
>                               -- Rich

One needs leather lungs to live near or in any big city.  I've seen
(and, unfortunately, been forced to breathe in) palls in the New
York area (including Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, etc.) that are more than
comparable to what I've seen in Los Angeles.  I've come back from
visits into the city with dirty hair, grimy fingernails, the whole
bit.

The whole smog thing in LA is really blown out of proportion, to my mind.
August thru October is when it's bad, but the rest of the year there's
usually no problem, particularly in the winter.  It also depends on where
you are-- it's much worse in the inland valleys, much less downtown, and
generally non-existent on the beach.

There is also a lot more to Southern California than just LA-- I think
the good people of San Diego would take exception to being called
part of greater LA.

Actually, forget everything I've said.  Yes, LA is terribly smoggy. 
People go around carrying gas masks year round.  Babies are born
with three arms, dogs in the area carry horrible diseases and have
no fur, etc.  And don't forget those earthquakes.  Just keep on thinking
the way you're thinking now-- eventually I hope to move back to
California-- north or south doesn't matter.  If everyone else thinks
California is such a horrible place, maybe there'll still be room
for me by the time I manage to get back there.

Mark Modig
ihnp4!sfmag!mom