Before I get into this, I feel a preface is in order. What follows will be a rant, pure and simple. It will be personal, it will probably come off as negative, but, in spite of everything, I will do my utmost to keep things as professional and civil as possible. I was born and raised in Fresno, California. I spent the formative years of my life there, and, though I go to school elsewhere now, I often return to the city on breaks and holidays. Often, the reunion is rather bittersweet. Fresno is a sizable urban stretch, sprawling with agricultural and business developments. Its citizens are diverse, and it's not without a good cultural spot or two. That said, it also comes packing with many, many disadvantageous elements.

In the evenings, one may indulge the view of a brilliant sunset. Bright hues of pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows spread across the skyline, and never cease to provide a stirring ambiance. To any local folks however, one knows such coloration to be the tell-tale sign of mass pollution. How polluted you may ask? Very, excessively, overwhelmingly so. Not only is Fresno one of the most heavily polluted stops in California, it also happens to be one of the most smog-ridden cities in the nation. Any extended period of living here guarantees one of several debilitating respiratory ailments, with varying degrees and flavors. Prevailing among these is asthma, which I myself and numerous neighbors contracted at some point during our tenure as citizens. Speaking from experience, the air is so much cleaner elsewhere that returning home after a long sojourn out of the county usually warrants a two-week adjustment period of inhalers and unrestrained wheezing.

This is frustrating enough as it is, but factor in 100 degree heat and situation takes on a whole new level of angst. Sitting well within the smoldering center of the central valley, Fresno is well known for breaking its own records for all-time highs, especially in the summer. Throughout the year, locals must endure a climate variance of "hot" and "slightly less hot than that." Sure, there's winter, short-lived though it may be; every once in a while we even experience a more-or-less normal cycle. But generally speaking, the atmosphere is fitting of any desert or quasi-tropical locale. Side-effects may include but are not limited to: irritation, sunburns, dehydration, lightheadedness, extreme brightness, and higher risks of skin cancer. To be blunt, it's fairly miserable. In fairness, I've certainly visited places that proved warmer, and assuredly more humid. Conversely, it's one thing to visit such an area, but living there is a whole other affair.

Lastly, and for the life of me, there's just something about my hometown that catches me the wrong way. Maybe it's some specific issue, like the crazed infrastructure, or the number of people running around stealing mail. Maybe it's a stylistic grievance, like our ridiculous, unsustainable lawn culture, or the strange ads that only seem to pop up on local channels. In either case, there is simply something at work here that I cannot reconcile with. To conclude, I'm fond of many people here, and do not fault my fellow Fresnans for the present state of affairs. Still, readers, if you plan on passing through, I recommend all the haste you can legally muster.