A blog about Technology, News, and Kern County.
Address: 1707 Eye St. Bakersfield, CA 93301 Member Since: May 14, 2007 Last Signed In: November 19, 2009 Profile Views: 2906 Blog Views: 186741 Bakersfield not so giving, magazine says Secret menus at Bakersfield restaurants Videos galore of local marching bands Shocker: Bakersfield not safe for pedestrians Does Ryan Mathews deserve Heisman consideration? Bakersfield man with colorful record in middle of billion-dollar Chevron dispute Mobile haiku puts Bakersfield in new light Songs do more than namedrop Bakersfield Pedro Martinez taken back to his Bakersfield Dodger days Fresno piles on the hate for Bakersfield May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 Submit your local links to bakosphere@bakersfield.com. Bakersfield Observed CompuDave greener bakersfield 
RSS 2.0    Share!
|
|
|
Fresno piles on the hate for Bakersfield
Bakosphere has noted regularly that the regular stream of surveys, lists and the like that rank cities nationwide typically are fraught with goofy methodology, odd data sources and just plain bad info. With that in mind, Bakosphere didn't even note the recent Daily Beast list that ranked Fresno last among "smart cities." For one reason, Bakersfield didn't make the list, which included only 55 cities. So, to Fresno's credit, 55 and last on a ridiculous list is better than 56 and lower. But, the Contra Costa Times decided to travel to Fresno to document how the city is coping with the psychological impact of this horrific ranking and how it deals with the constant ridicule from other snooty locales (hmmm, wonder what that's like?). OK, so far we're sympathetic to Fresno's plight in this Daily Beast silliness. ... until the end of the story, when the Times writer wonders, gee, is Fresno the end of the world or is there a place even they stoop to ridicule? Here's the predictable quote from Fresno Bee music columnist Mike Osegueda:
" 'Who do we make fun of?" says Osegueda, without hesitation. "Bakersfield.' " Al Smith, president of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, laughingly piles on with a similar comment in the accompanying video (in which Osegueda actually comes across well; he also posted several takes on his blog and in a column defending the city). So, here's our question: Who deserves our scorn? Is Fresno still our prime target or is it such an easy target that other places are more deserving of our ridicule? 40 comments from 16 users
1
posted by
bakotopia
on Oct 16, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Bakersfield has way better bands than Fresno. Poo on their music columnist! posted by
learnem
on Oct 16, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Fresno, bagging on bakersfield??? whats MONG with them? posted by
goldilox
on Oct 16, 2009 at 01:19 PM
OH CRAP LearnEm - killin' me ! LOL
posted by
pogo
on Oct 16, 2009 at 02:12 PM
There used to be a saying in Arkansas: "Thank God for Mississippi" Fresno can say "Thank God for Bakersfield" I guess Bako can say "Thank God for Taft" posted by
goldilox
on Oct 16, 2009 at 02:13 PM
pogo, you from Ark? posted by
pogo
on Oct 16, 2009 at 02:15 PM
Oklahoma, but you can hear Arkansas on a quiet day. posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 16, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Fresno and Bakersfield are the same. When one city is talking crap about the other they are merely making fun of themselves. There really is no difference other than Fresno has a bigger university. posted by
bakotopia
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:15 PM
They're a much more isolated city than Bakersfield. posted by
pogo
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:22 PM
They produced William Saroyan. We got Frank Gifford posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:25 PM
The main industries are agriculture (Bakersfield does have oil). The populations consists of immigrants and displaced Arkies/Okies. Both have bad air quality. They both have an overpriced housing market. I can't think of anything that makes one city better than the other. They face the same issues/problems. What makes one better than the other? posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:26 PM
We got Earl Warren and Jack Johnson, too. Most of Bakersfield doesn't claim Johnson but I do. Technically, we could claim both Bushes, too, since they lived here for a short period of time. posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Too bad Warren is usually forgottten among the bushes, too. --virgil posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:40 PM
BHut, We got a street named after Merle Haggard ... ! --virgil posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:41 PM
and, um, Buck Owens . --virgil posted by
goldilox
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:45 PM
and KORN .. posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:46 PM
and lots of it ... --virgil posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:48 PM
...and that girl on HGTV (Kim Myles). posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:49 PM
I heard that two tablespoons of sugar in the water while you are cooking it, really adds to the sweetness of white corn on the comb. --virgil posted by
goldilox
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:55 PM
har har (they deff need sweetness, freaky band) oh, and Joey Porter, and David Carr posted by
goldilox
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:55 PM
and Roger Mears, Casey Mears, and Kevin Harvick too ! vrrmmm posted by
honorerdieu
on Oct 16, 2009 at 03:57 PM
We also have the National Hot Road Reunion held every year outside of Bakersfield (that's this week). Can't forget about March Meet either. posted by
pogo
on Oct 16, 2009 at 04:00 PM
they've got dancing raisins. we got almonds. so are we nuts? posted by
goldilox
on Oct 16, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Oh, and not to forget ... I live here too, so we win ! posted by
sagefever
on Oct 16, 2009 at 04:38 PM
They had a nighttime soap opera ~ oh....and so did we. posted by
HypocrisyIrks
on Oct 16, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Plus, we're almost 2 hours closer to the beaches I frequently visit and Disneyland. The happiest place on Earth...um, Disneyland not Bakersfield. posted by
drilnliftcrude
on Oct 16, 2009 at 06:42 PM
You know why Texas doesn't slide right into the Gulf of Mexico? Because Oklahoma sucks. posted by
CatherineBaker
on Oct 16, 2009 at 06:52 PM
LOL!! You guys are funny! Fresno has Clovis and Bakersfield has Rosedale! Maybe Fresno and Bakersfield are long-lost twins. If so, Tulare County is their country-bumpkin cousin. Oklahoma does suck, and Texas taught it how. posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Oct 16, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Kinda like a navel and an , ah, well ... you know. --virgil posted by
BillLever
on Oct 16, 2009 at 08:18 PM
For those who think Fresno is somehow superior to Bakersfield, here's the only difference I can find: In the 1930's Dustbowl, tens of thousands of Texans and Okies made their way to California's Central Valley. It's all in Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. After they crossed the rugged desert and climbed the mountain pass at Tehachapi, they, naturally, shut off their truck engines to to save gasoline and coasted down to the valley floor. Now here's the only difference: When the Texans and Okies got the the valley floor at Bakersfield, the ones whose trucks were still running and still had gas money, they went to Fresno.
posted by
AudreyB
on Oct 17, 2009 at 08:13 AM
Does anyone takes these polls seriously? Seriously! Another poll could be taken today using different criteria to judge intellience and Bakersfield would be #1 and Fresno would be #2. As a matter of fact, Fresno will always be #2 in my book. posted by
learnem
on Oct 17, 2009 at 08:45 AM
fresno has the doghouse grill too. right across the street from F_ _ _- NO state posted by
Lingtaowoo
on Oct 17, 2009 at 08:55 AM
10-4 learnem.... I know a propery manager up there...she was encouraged to take night courses to learn how to speak MONG--unreal amigo.... Looks like ENGLISH will become a second language among U.S. citizens one day....now we know where the illegals from China are going... Wonder how the UFW feels about that.... posted by
shasta78
on Oct 17, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I'm just glad I got out of Bakersfield almost 10 years ago and only go back once a year to visit. I enjoy it much more that way. :) posted by
Lingtaowoo
on Oct 17, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I know what you mean...lived in San Diego County for 13 years..moved back here to the land that TIME FORGOT--but hey--it's home...
posted by
goldilox
on Oct 17, 2009 at 06:26 PM
Shasta - you live by Redding? ... Ling, i am from Encinitas - what town were you in? posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 17, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Bakersfield and Fresno can lay claim to Ryan Mathews!!! He's killing the Spartans. He's over 200 yards for the night. posted by
lovemycountry
on Oct 23, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Fresno, the Houston of the West, is bagging on Bakersfield? Now that's a hot one! I was born in San Francisco and now live happily in Bakersfield. Every time I have to go Fresno for business, a graduation or whatever, I cannot WAIT to leave! What an awful place. Earth to the spirit of Johnny Carson -- are you listening? posted by
goldilox
on Oct 23, 2009 at 12:51 PM
NO Cali town is as bad as Stockton, IMO
posted by
bakotopia
on Oct 26, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Didn't Fresno inspire the "3-Strikes Law"? posted by
jfrancais
on Oct 26, 2009 at 03:57 PM
I don't know but it inspired a spoof of the glitzy glamorous Dallas.
1
 Loading Stories
Advertisement |