Living Well Etc.

How the Drought of the '70s Compare to Today's Mega-Drought As a life-long Californian, I’ve lived through the great drought of the ‘70s and many record-breaking hot-summer days, which resulted in energy usage restrictions. During our last drought—only a few years ago—we had numerous brownouts and blackouts.  It appears that this ongoing drought may cause more of those same issues, as a headline in the Guardian recently read: “Less water means more gas: how drought will test California’s stressed power grid.” For the most part, Californians are typically requested to conserve energy during our hot summers when usage peaks due to ever-running air conditioners anyway.  However, if this continues, we may not have enough of our natural gas supply and our wind and solar doesn’t produce enough yet either.   Additionally, according to the website, California Department of Water Resources, 11 out of the 12 largest reservoirs are well below historical levels, which l...

  Pilot, Commander, and Our First Black US Air Force General Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr., and Harriet Tubman may be the most often mentioned Black History heroes.  However, there are many more whose names most people might not recognize.  One of these heroes is Benjamin O. Davis Jr. As the first African-American US Air Force General Benjamin O. Davis Jr is probably most well known as the commander of the World War II  Tuskegee Airmen .  General Davis grew up fully aware of racial inequality through his father's struggles as one of the only two African-American combat officers in the army.  Due to his race, he was unable to advance.  Thus, young Davis vowed to change segregation and racial inequality and was in a big part responsible for many of the changes we see today.       Even though graduating near the top of his class at West Point, he was rejected, minimalized, and not allowed to...

  Defender of the Race Most grade school children can state what Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall accomplished during their lifetimes.  Yet, we tend to forget about other heroes.  Throughout this month, let us consider all who sacrificed to end segregation and tried to put an end to racial inequalities.  One of these heroes was Robert S. Abbott. Enjoy trivia?  Here's one for you: In what American newspaper would you find the first comic strip?  The answer might surprise you, as it is the first African American newspaper, the  Chicago Defender  owned and run by an attorney unable to practice due to his race, Robert S. Abbot.  His paper was the first for publishing many things including a health column and circulation of over 100,000.  Much more important than that was his focus.   He began his venture in 1905 and quickly built up quite a following, mostly in the Chicago area.  By 1910, with the assistance ...

  The Effects of the MLK Speech on Me It began as a typical sweltering summer day filled with regulars buying their Nehi sodas and Camel cigarettes while a steady hum of soft music played from the store's radio.  My entire world spun around when the music stopped.  It was August 28, 1963, and as Martin Luther King's booming voice shouted from the radio, " I have a dream ", his passion and choice of words confused me.  Since I worked eight+ hours each day when not in school, I knew little of the daily struggles our browner brothers and sisters faced. Raised in a culturally rich neighborhood, I never noticed color.  In fact, at age five I befriended a local black man.  I had no father, wanted one, so I asked him if he wanted the job .  Good-naturedly, he replied that we should ask my mother first.  I didn't understand the quirky smiles emanating from the two of them that day.  After MLK's eye-opening speech, I realized that I lived...

  Labor Day is More Than Just Hot Dogs on the Grill Americans love to celebrate Labor Day as our last summer hurrah, with many heading outdoor with our favorite refreshments.  However, how many people consider why we celebrate this one day above all others in September?  The teacher in me wants to know, I'm in research mode and taking you with me.  Let's find the reason behind this holiday.   Why do we celebrate? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, our day of picnics, barbecues , and parades was created over a century ago to celebrate American laborers.   I think you will agree that a national holiday is a much better tribute to our workers than a statue in some park—much better.    Nevertheless, why would we create a national holiday just to celebrate people doing a job and receiving a paycheck?  The premise seems a bit odd since many of us are just happy to...

  First African American Pilot “The sky is the only place there is no prejudice. Up there, everyone is equal, everyone is free.” Elizabeth Coleman Born to African American and Native American sharecropper parents in 1892 Texas, Elizabeth, Bessie, fought for her chance to become an aviator. ( video ) In her twenties, she became interested in flying thanks to WW1 returning soldiers' heroic stories.    In a deeply segregated U.S., she could find no pilot to train her, even those who were black.   Her brother, newly returned from war, entertained her with stories of the many opportunities for women in France, one of which was pilot training.   As this seemed to be her only hope, she set her sights on France. Bessie began her journey by learning French.   Along with her savings and financial backing from the African-American community, she left for France in 1920.   By 1921, she accomplished her goal and became the first American woman who earned a...

A California Woman Who Fought for the Land and the Mechoopda Drive through Northern California and you will find a Bidwell street, park, or building in most cities.   Still, I doubt many actually know why the street bears the name.     In truth, the namesakes most probably honor John Bidwell , a California pioneer, politician, farmer, and philanthropist. Nevertheless, his wife, Annie, contributed quite a bit to our golden state of California as well.   Annie Bidwell’s Early Years Annie’s early years shaped her belief system and future.   She was born into an upper-middle-class family and raised in Washington D.C.   In her early teen years, she became a devout Presbyterian, leading her to devote her life to social issues, like conservation, women’s suffrage, and prohibition.   In fact, her many friends included Susan B. Anthony, Frances Willard, and John Muir.   Annie Marries and Begins Work on Her Passions While John was in Washington D...

Poet, Writer, and Tireless Fighter for Native Americans “...greatest American woman poet." Ralph Waldo Emerson Best known as the writer of the 1884 novel, Ramona , Helen Hunt Jackson was also an outspoken human rights activist, focusing on Native American issues.   She fought using the written word beginning with the 1881 novel Century of Dishonor , in which she unveiled the wrongdoings of our government toward Native Americans.  It is still in print.   To every member of Congress, she gave a copy inscribed with, "Look upon your hands: they are stained with the blood of your relations."  Due to her plucky personality and intellect, Helen also collected many accomplished literary friends throughout her life beginning with Emily Dickenson in childhood and later with Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. The Why Behind Her Drive Helen experienced multiple tragedies in her life, including losing her mother at an early age, and later her husb...

  Grace Carpenter Hudson (1865-1937) Here in the United States, we celebrate the accomplishments of women every March.  Most often, these women are well known, like Eleanor Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman.   No doubt, these two women were remarkable, and their accomplishments are indelibly ingrained in our historic memory bank.   Nevertheless, countless women have contributed noteworthy accomplishments as well.   What follows is the story of just one of those women. Grace’s Early History Near the end of the 1800s, when women had very few choices, especially when it came to careers, California native, Grace Carpenter Hudson became a well-known, extraordinarily successful painter.   This might not be of much interest to most unless you consider some of her subjects.   More on that later.   For now, let’s learn more about Grace. Born to the first white schoolteacher for the Pomo Native American tribe and an accomplished artist, Gra...

Entrepreneur, Freer of Slaves,   and Voodoo Queen of San Francisco Much of this amazing woman's history has been blemished due to an organized smear campaign in the late 1800s. Some say she practiced voodoo, stole babies, and killed those who were in her way.  None of these accusations can be confirmed.  After many years of digging, researchers found that the following facts could not be erased so easily.  Vital to the Underground Railroad Whether or not Mary Ellen Pleasant was born a slave – whose father was a plantation owner – or if she was born free, doesn't really matter.  Historical records do confirm, however, that she was vital to the Underground Railroad.  She also became a successful businessperson in a time when women didn't have many rights if any.  Early in her life, Mary Ellen married James W. Smith, an abolitionist who introduced her to saving slaves by smuggling them to Canada.  She and her husband...

How a Woman Helped End the War in California As the mother of a son born during the Vietnam War, I can understand a mother's apprehension about her son one day entering the war arena.  For me, I was terrified.  Boys I had grown up with were killed or maimed in war.  I would have done anything to keep him safe, as would most mothers.   However, Bernarda Ruiz trumped anything I could even imagine, especially since she accomplished what many men could not and she was a woman in the mid-1800s.  A Trip Back in Time During this time period, the US and Mexico were at  war  over the land each felt ownership. Los Angeles was considered significantly important due to its position on the southern end of the west coast .  Of course, the military came in and established control over the area and other strategic locations as well.  Problems arose when they became a bit too heavy-handed with the locals.    Californios, Mexicans livi...