My California Snob self came to life with your comments about Fresno/Bakersfield! I grew up in Los Altos Hills & I can tell you it took years of concentrated effort to be more even-minded about the interior cities. Actually, it was spending my senior year in high school in Lewiston, Idaho, that finally put me over the edge. Lewiston makes Fresno look like the cosmopolitan capital of the central valley! I learned to love the Inland Empire (Eastern Wash, N. Idaho, E Oregon), tho, & have enjoyed quick visits in Stockton, Modesto & Fresno too to visit friends over the years.

John, I know American Graffiti was supposed to be set in Modesto, but wasn't it actually filmed in Petaluma?

Gail In green, green Eugene