# I'm curious. What does "Humboldt" bring to mind for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 4, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419 "2003-04-04T08:53:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/41 "2003-04-04T15:49:47Z")
Marijuana. If you know Humboldt County, California, you’ll know why. ---
**Author:** ![coyasicanbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@coyasicanbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyasicanbe)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/42 "2003-04-04T16:02:06Z")
It’s a street I used to live on. In between Grant St and Iron St. They’re alphabetical. And it only took me two years to figure that one out. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/43 "2003-04-04T16:02:46Z")
Good weed. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/44 "2003-04-04T16:06:34Z")
Humboldt, KS. Tiny town, but a lot of my family hails from there. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/45 "2003-04-04T16:09:30Z")
The penguins, the squid, and since nobody’s mentioned it [Humboldt Fog goat cheese](http://www.cypressgrovechevre.com/abtcheese.htm). ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/46 "2003-04-04T17:46:03Z")
Reminds me of playing softball in Central Park in high school. Huh, you say. We used to meet at the SE corner of the park, near a bust of Mr. Humbolt. (The statue has since been moved to the west side of the park where (IIRC) he can gaze at the American Museum of Natural History. No doubt he’s happier there near all the stuffed antelopes and such, instead of watching that goldleafed show-off, General William Sherman.) ---
**Author:** ![big\_alex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@big\_alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_alex)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/47 "2003-04-04T18:37:35Z")
The current for me as well. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/48 "2003-04-04T19:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ **China Guy** > where men are men and so are the women (it’s a norcal thing) Haha! Hey…I resemble that remark… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ **Derleth** > Humboldt penguins. > Heh. I’m a Linux geek and a fan of Penguin Caffeinated Pepperments. Live free or die. My RedHat box is also named Honeydew, like me. It is the name of my tiny hometown in southern Humboldt County, CA. I’m pertpetually homesick ☹ > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ **twickster47** > We trust you’ll find some threads a trifle less mundane and pointless to enjoy. _sniff_ I’m hurt 😛 > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ **HoldenCaulfield** > It makes me think of hippies. I know a lot of people that go or are going to go to Humboldt State University here in California; for some reason I > just think modern-day hippies. I attended HSU. It is a great school. Complete with a Redwood forest sprawling behind campus. Perfect for hiking, moutain biking, disc golf, Botany field trips (Dr. Mesler’s classes are a must), or just decompressing. There is certainly a hippy factor. Lots of kids come up from SoCal with their parents’ cars and money, end up partying away their tuition, then start selling hemp necklaces and patchouli on the Arcata plaza. But most of the Humboldt hippies are fabulous folks. Humboldt County has its fair share of hicks too. I pretty much identify as half hippy, half hick, half geek. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ **Kal** > Highway 101 runs through Humboldt County, CA. 420 (or 4:20) is a drug reference. IIRC, Police code for possession and/or the time when most folk light up. Snopes’ [420](http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/420.htm) entry is a good read. I grinned when I saw my current home of Atlanta had a nod there: > [@](#): > > Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing Co. sells its 420 Pale Ale in supermarkets and opens its doors to the public at 4:20 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays It is a tasty hemp ale (in case that wasn’t obvious). > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ **Kyla** > Marijuana. > If you know Humboldt County, California, you’ll know why. True dat. It is a really rural county with rugged terrain that just so happens to provide perfect growing conditions for the wonderful weed. The same conditions are shared by the surrounding counties, Mendocino, Del Notre, etc. Basically, a couple of hours north of Napa, wine country gives way to weed and Redwood country. In the hay-day of Humboldt’s _outdoor_ horticulture, law enforcement just couldn’t crawl through the wilderness sufficiently to eradicate everyone’s plants on their back 40 acres. But then [C.A.M.P.](http://caag.state.ca.us/newsalerts/2001/01-120.htm) arrived on the scene severely in the 80’s and the result was a migration to indoor growing. Current hydroponic marvels were developed and tweaked in Humboldt just as much as anywhere else in the Land of Mary Jane. Once anyone could grow whatever they wanted in their closet, the more famous pot producing regions started fading from the public eye. Evolving into legends and myths in the natural history of seed strains that are traded across the globe. Lookup “yumboldt” as an example. It cracks me up the way some people react when they find out where I’m from. Some do a double-take and then say “Humboldt! Right on man. right on. so…you been home to visit lately??” Some stoners perceive it as a Tea-head Mecca. They last guy I met here in Atlanta who knew of Humboldt was so enthusiastic that I gave him my prized T-shirt that says _ **Humboldt: The grass is always greener** _ > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ **epolo** > The penguins, the squid, and since nobody’s mentioned it Humboldt Fog goat cheese. Great link. The quintessential Humboldt County cottage industry. I love the concept of the _Fromage à Trois_ product from their site. There I go getting homesick again ☹ ---
**Author:** ![boomvark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@boomvark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boomvark)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/49 "2003-04-04T19:50:05Z")
High-powered cannabis. And I don’t even smoke the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/50 "2003-04-04T20:25:31Z")
Before reading the rest of the responses: It’s the award that was given out on “Murphy Brown” every year… they had the yearly “Humboldt” episode (and the plot over who won, who lost, why, etc.) After reading: apparently, I’m really naive. ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/51 "2003-04-04T20:25:39Z")
A river in Nevada. Named after the geographer, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/52 "2003-04-04T20:40:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GingerOfTheNorth \* > \*\*Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Home to my friend LuRita (pronounced Loretta). \*\* Ditto. My best freind was from there too. ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/53 "2003-04-04T20:48:01Z")
I think of home. I grew up in Humboldt County, and my family is still there, so I go down there for holidays. People have mentioned the redwoods, but don’t forget that the best beaches in the world are right there in Humboldt County–Trinidad and thereabouts. Beaches with big old rocks for waves to crash against–none of the candy-a\*\*ed smooth, featureless beaches like in Southern California. Favorite marijuana story: in the late seventies, California law was very specific about what type of marijuana was illegal–it mention a specific genus, I believe. Someone pointed out to a Humboldt Co. judge that the stuff grown locally was a different genus. So he ruled it wasn’t illegal and therefore the cops could not conduct raids and confiscate the crops. By the time he got overruled, growing season had come and gone, and the harvest was enjoyed by all. Actually, marijuana was a boon to the economy of So. Humboldt, an area heavily affected by the loss of logging jobs. I still remember friends from Garberville (a rather red-neck town in the '70’s) complaining about the influx of “hippie-types” until these hippies started spending very good money on farming equipment and indoor lights, and then later, (after the harvest), on clothes, jewelry, trucks and all manner of goods. Marijuana saved downtown Garberville. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/54 "2003-04-04T21:06:53Z")
Amen **Kallessa**. There is nowhere like the Humboldt coast. My girlfriend and I just backpacked the Lost Coast Trail for 4 days when we were home for a nice long 3 week visit with my Mom, who still lives in the Honeydew hills. It was just this past February, a little early to do the Lost Coast without getting cold and wet, but we had a little bubble of fabulous weather the whole time. We saw maybe 3 people for a total of about 2 minutes, and the rest of the time it was just us and the waves…and the sand. Nothing like wading through sand while carrying a pack, but it is more than worth it. My favorite way to do it is to hike south from the mouth of the Mattole River and get picked up at Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove 3 or 4 days later. I used to do that trip every spring break while attending HSU. Of course the true die-hards are the thick-skinned surfers who hike north from Black Sands to Big Flat to catch some waves. They hike north against the wind with surfboards sticking straight up out of their external frame packs, basically making the wind resistance a limiting factor for the weak at heart. You have to be driven to want to endure that _and_ the freaking cold ass water. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/55 "2003-04-04T21:45:10Z")
**Steve Wright** , seems you were wright (hah!), I was talking out my bum. Oh well, that was my first association all the same. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/56 "2003-04-04T21:53:01Z")
I’m with amarinth. The only thing it brought to mind was Murphy Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/57 "2003-04-04T21:57:07Z")
Squid. Big ones with long tentacles. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/58 "2003-04-04T23:42:46Z")
Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835), Prussian linguist, philosopher and education reformer. Humboldt was what we nowdays refer to as a classical liberal, in the spirit of Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill. He is much less well-known than these two, especially in the English-speaking world, despite the fact that his essay “The Limits of State Action” was published before Mill’s “On Liberty.” Mill openly acknowledged his intellectual debt to Humboldt, and some modern thinkers who draw heavily on the classical liberal tradition, like Noam Chomsky, also cite Humboldt as a key influence. ---
**Author:** ![penny\_dreadful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@penny\_dreadful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penny_dreadful)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/59 "2003-04-05T01:43:15Z")
When I was 9 or 10 years old, I read a book called IIRC, \* Faith, Hope and Hilarity \* by Dick Van Dyke. It was sort of a “Kids Say the Darndest Things” collections, with funny stuff he overheard during his years as a Sunday-school teacher. How does this relate? Well, one kid said his favorite hymn was called “Jesus is Sneaking Through Humboldt Park.” (The song is actually “Jesus is Seeking a Humble Heart”.) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419/60 "2003-04-05T01:59:52Z")
Humboldt squid - [sweet animals](http://www.thewarfields.com/HumboldtSquid.htm) [sub] > [@](#): > > The Humboldt Current Squid is one of the smallish members of the Giant Squid family. They are so named because they’re found in the Humboldt Current in the Gulf of California and Sea of Cortez. Mexican fishermen are terrified of them, and refer to them as the “Rojo Diablo” or Red Devil. They have seen men quickly devoured when they fell into the water with them. They have been seen as far north as Monterrey, so I suppose its not impossible one could encounter some while night diving. They need a warm current to come very far north, however. > > Normally, these squid hunt at night, and go much too deep to encounter divers during the day. Typical specimens are 5-6 feet in length, but they have been known to grow as large as 14 feet. These biggest ones weigh as much as 700 pounds. Think of them as being like the undersea equivalent of large aggressive Dobermans–and they attack with at least equal ferocity. These ocean predators typically hunt in packs as well, with 10 to 15 squid being a common sized shoal, although shoals of squid numbering in the hundreds have been seen too. They each have over a thousand suckers on their tentacles and each sucker is ringed with teeth that dig in. Squid are known to have the fastest reaction times of any creature on Earth, due to the unusually large size of their nerve fibers. Perhaps this accounts for the amazing speed and ferocity with which they attack their prey. > > It is mandatory to have some protection from these animals. You can’t dive with them in a wetsuit with no other protection and hope to survive. They have no hesitation about trying to attack and eat divers. The usual approach is a cage, much like what one would use with sharks. It is necessary to be sure the openings are very small–usually chicken wire is added to the bars–because these animals have no skeleton and can squeeze through very small openings. . [/sub] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-what-does-humboldt-bring-to-mind-for-you/166419.md?page=4)