my recent myth-busting trip (thoughts)

As we taxied across the tarmac in San Francisco, I said to my wife “hey, maybe we can go see the Mythbusters shop.”  Its always been a favorite television program of mine, and I thought it would be neat to see it in person.  As things turned out, we didnt get to go, but while we were in California, we had a different sort of myth-busting trip.

As a lifelong resident of the east coast, I have grown up listening to all manner of stories and news reports about California.  I have heard all the seemingly crazy enviromental laws they pass, heard of the geographical splendor, and of the oppulent wealth.  It seems that California, is a place only one or two steps removed from Eden.  

As a resident of West Virginia, I am familiar with myths, of course, Appalachian myths of course are typically less than flattering.  And of course many of those myths are perpetuated by places like…Hollywood, California.   In the spirit of myth-busting though I thought I would chronicle some of the California myths and compare them to the myths about Appalachians.    

I feel like this will be a nice start to my digital story.  I have often felt that the problems associated with the Appalachian region are simply common to the human experiance.  My recent trip to California helps support my thinking.  The photographs I took and the story I will tell demonstrate this.  I think the trick will come in not sounding bitter or angry, and making it a positive piece for both areas.  I also think the usual method of writing the story first them supporting with pictures will not do… I think this time i will create the picture comparisons and then write the story.     I can always go back and do it the other way if this doesn’t work out.