Berkeley

A politically progressive California city of 110,000 across the Bay from San Francisco.

Home of the Free Speech Movement, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Green Day, Counting Crows, and the University of California (Go Bears!) a.k.a. "Cal".

The elements Berkelium (Bk), Californium (Cf), and Americium (Am), among others, were discovered at U.C. Berkeley.

The cradle of the anti-Vietnam war movement (which led to Goveror Ronald Regan tear-gassing his own citizens). Early opponents to the "Patriot Act" and the Iraq war.

First city to:
-- divest (remove investments) from South Africa, accelerating the end of Apartheid.
-- covert its entire diesel fleet to biodiesel fuel.
-- enact a comprehensive smoking ban.
-- voluntarily implement city-wide school busing.
-- implement curb-side recycling.
-- install curb cuts in sidewalks for wheelchairs and bicycles.
-- prohibit the sale of ozone-destroying styrofoan fast-food cups and clam-shell containers.

Barbara Lee, the only U.S. Congressman to vote against giving Pretzeldent Bush the authority to attach Afghanistan and Iraq, represents Berkeley.

Home to the "How Berkeley Can You Be" parade each September.

The birthplace of the free speech movement at the University of California at Berkeley in 1965. The epicenter of left wing politics in the 1960's and 1970's. A funky college town filled with aging hippies, university students and upwardly mobile young families. The location of the confrontation between police and protestors in People's Park in May 1969, where student protestor James Rector was shot and killed by police. The birthplace of new French and California cuisine through Alice Waters' Chez Panisse restaurant. The city where German film director Werner Herzog ate his shoe. The birthplace of the Acme Bread Company and Peets' Coffee & Tea, the coffeehouse chain that pioneered direct purchase of coffee beans from growers and would influence Starbucks and numerous other chains. Location of Moe's Books and Krishna Copy Center, the first photocopy center in the U.S.A.

A city in Northern California. First came on to the map because of its extreme liberal reputation and for being a Mecca for hippies in the 60's and 70's. *(this is my take on Beekeley after moving here form LA area 8mths ago)*

Berkeley is now classified by different sections.

Berkeley Hills:
The sole reason Subaru and rooftop-boxes are still in business. The Berkeley Hills now serve as an upscale retirement community for aged former hippies who, although raised on the hippie ideology of giving to the poor, they now seclude themselves in an upper class community far away from the poor(we) people downtown. If you're thinking about visiting this part of Berkeley, don't, the streets aren't wide enough for anything larger than a Prius.

Downtown Berkeley:
This section of Berkeley (including campus) is a more urban setting. Pedestrians will walk right in front of your car and give YOU The dirty look for being too close to them. Walk down Telegraph and you'll be asked for change more times than being backstage at a fashion show. Parking enforcement "officers" swarm this area like flies on shit or buzzards on a carcas, only grosser.

Berkeley Flats:
The flats of Berkeley are the only part of town that resemble some sort of normal living situation. Driveways, straight streets, less foot traffic and relatively middle class people in actual neighborhoods.

A hella liberal city in the bay area, filled with awesome people and hippies. Best city in California.

ire, iconoclasticism, the urge to question authority. When something gets my Berkeley up, I'm feeling feisty and considering activism -- usually, but not necessarily political.

A city in the San Francisco Bay Area. Populated mostly by hippies and yuppies. Berkeley rocks. Minus the yuppies.

To show someone up in an argument using superior intellect.

Ex: Booya, you've been Berkeleyed.

Alternate usage (tonality is exasperated): To enter into a completely pointless argument that only uber-nerds would enjoy, but feeling obligated to compete to prove the other person wrong. Usually a result of someone trying to employ the primary definition.