Damn, one of my potential plans this summer was moving to California to dig for gold. Now I'm gonna have to compete with millions of other morons because of this article. :brad:
The New California Gold Rush
Modern-day gold diggers party like it's 1849
Within an hour of downtown Los Angeles, people are seeking that one sure commodity.
"I'm here to find gold," said Kevin Brown. "I'm a studio lighting technician in Hollywood, between the writers strike that happened last year, and the Screen Actors Guild, whatever they want to call it. Lately I've had to turn to having to do it for extra cash."
Geologists estimate that during the gold rush of 1849 in California, about 80 percent of the gold was never found. Today, with the price of gold soaring and the economy falling, the idea of panning, digging or diving for precious metal has become serious business.
"There's definitely gold nuggets down in the bottom here," Brown said. "Just a matter of getting 30 feet down lower than any old timer or modern prospector has done."
And, for people willing to put in the effort, it's paying off.
"I just wanted a little California gold. That's all I initially started at," said David Perkins, an unemployed aerospace worker from the South Bay. "And, one thing led to another, and within my first year, I actually picked up close to two pounds of gold."
I mean "compete".