It was that population that gave to California a name for getting up astounding
enterprises, and rushing them through with a magnificent dash and daring, and
a recklessness of cost or consequences, which she bears unto this day; and when
she projects a new surprise, the grave world smiles as usual, and says, "Well,
that is California all over."

Mark Twain made that observation well before the integrated circuit was invented.

The quote is from
Roughing
It, an account of his youthful travels in the western US in the 1860's,
including his experiences in the silver rush in the Nevada Territory. Great
little book. Twain mostly worked at newspapers out there, but eagerly took
part in the boom, getting involved in various ventures and swapping shares with
his buddies, seeing them shoot up and down as wildly as any dot-com IPO.

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on
Innocents
Abroad, where he tells about his travels in the Middle East, as well as
his autobiography.