Name this berry/plant...

I was at my cousin's house in East Texas, off Highway 21 East between Melrose and Chireno at Sand Hill, (never heard of those places? you're not missing much) when I went for a little walk to the little red barn that belongs to another cousin. I took these pics because I didn't know what it was and had never seen anything like it before. Recognize it? I don't either...damn.

Erika Eve - December 17th @ the Continental Club

I went to the Continental Club last night to see Whiskey Boat & to celebrate Wicked Wednesday with Eric Tucker. I knew when I headed out that Erika Eve would be there and I was somewhat interested in seeing Miss Nude 2007. If her tits hadn't been fake, I might have been impressed but they looked like a couple of grapefruits stuck on a bean pole and her hair, good grief, it was fried blonde. She looked nothing like the pics I'd seen of her. Check out her pics here:

http://www.myspace.com/theerikaeve and please excuse the bad pics from my cell phone. Ah yes, the infamous cell phone pics...

Straggler Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Blooming in December

Birds and squirrels make a big mess in my yard. I guess that's why I've got sunflowers coming up around the birdbath area. This is the 1st one blooming. There's still another one that I'm going to take a pic of with the infamous cell phone before the squirrels destroy it trying to eat the seeds!

yet another Hawaii picture

The attachment with this one said "Happy Thanksgiving". Ok, who's still in Hawaii that I know and who sent this to me?

Wednesday night in Houston

I went out to eat Wednesday night at my favorite restaurant, Don Jose. Eventhough my hair was a mess, I decided I'd go anyway and request a table in what used to be the smoking section of the restaurant. I thought I'd be alone there. That's what I get for thinking. When I got there two men were already there. Did they have the same plan as I? One was awaiting a to-go order and the other was eating alone like I had intended to do. He was almost finished with his meal, had one margarita and had ordered another one. He spoke briefly to the other guy before he left with his order but I wasn't paying much attention to them at that point. While I was munching on chips and listening to reruns of the Simpsons on the TV in the background, I noticed that this guy was dozing at his table. It wasn't to the point of where his head was bouncing off of the table or anything but just like the pic above, enough to keep me watching and laughing. At one point, he woke up and looked right at me and said "Since when did history become popular?". I didn't know what to say so I shrugged my shoulders and took a drink of my margarita. Since when was this kind of behavior acceptable at Don Jose's? Maybe he's a regular there like me and he does it all of the time. Maybe he's a good tipper so it's overlooked. Maybe he was tired and needed a nap. I'm full of maybe's but no real answer. I continued to watch him for awhile and then it dawned on me why I was watching him so intently. He reminded me of someone very dear to me that used to do the same thing and I never realized what was going on. My eyes started to get teary so I left...poor guy. I hope he has a family at home to take care of him and not let him have the same fate as my dearly departed friend. I'm going back every week now and purposely sit in the smoking section that is no more just so I can watch him again. Pathetic, I know...

Hawaii, anyone?

My sister, cousin and two of my good friends are all in Hawaii this week and this is what I get, pictures via text messages. That's ever so cool, I guess...

PROUD TO BE WHITE

PROUD TO BE WHITE
I have been wondering about why Whites are racists, and no other race is.
Michael Richards makes his point...Michael Richards better known as Kramer from TVs Seinfeld does make a good point. This was his defense speech in court after making racial comments in his comedy act.
He makes some very interesting points: Someone finally said it... How many are actually paying attention to this?
There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc. and then there are just Americans.
You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction. You call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,' 'Whitey,' 'Caveman' ... and that's OK. But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink... You call me a racist.
You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you... so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?
You have the United Negro College Fund.
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET... If we had WET (White Entertainment Television), we'd be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.
If we had a White History Month, we'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives we'd be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce.
Wonder who pays for that??
A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.
If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships...You know we'd be racists.
There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US.
And if there were 'White colleges', that would be a racist college.
In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights.
If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.
You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it.
But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.
You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.
I am proud... But you call me a racist.
Why is it that only whites can be racists?? There is nothing improper about this e-mail (blog).
Let's see which of you are proud enough to send it on (copy and paste). I sadly don't think many will. That's why we have lost most of OUR RIGHTS in this country. We won't stand up for ourselves!
BE PROUD TO BE WHITE! It's not a crime yet, but getting real close!

Rebuild Bolivar Peninsula!!!

http://www.rebuildbolivar.com/
During the early morning hours of Saturday, September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated the communities located on Bolivar Peninsula. We are hopeful that government officials will support reconstruction efforts and allow the property owners in these communities to rebuild. We need your help with this initiative!
Our primary goal is to assist in the rebuilding of the communities on Bolivar Peninsula. Before this process can begin we must launch an initiative that will help to convey to government officials the importance of rebuilding and providing funding for the reconstruction of Bolivar Peninsula. The assembly of a collective voice is imperative to our success. We need your help!
Please take a moment to contact your local, state, and/or U.S. officials to urge them to support the reconstruction of Bolivar Peninsula (click on "Political Contacts" in the menu on the left).

Bolivar Peninsula Property Owners:
We understand that many of the property owners of Bolivar Peninsula have concerns about holding a wide-spread volunteer-based clean-up initiative at this time. We also understand that many property owners desperately need assistance moving debris to the appropriate location for removal from their property. In an effort to meet the needs and desires of all property owners, we have developed an approach that will provide assistance to those who need it while respecting the property boundaries of those who do not.
If you are a Bolivar Peninsula property owner who would like volunteer assistance in cleaning debris from your property, please do the following:
Arrive at the intersection of highways 124 and 87 in High Island at 8:00am on Saturday, October 18.
You will have the opportunity to meet volunteers who would like to assist you with the clean-up of your property.
As a property owner you have the right to escort a small team of volunteers to your property to assist you.
Your volunteer team will need to exit the peninsula by 4pm, no exceptions.
During the duration of the clean-up event, you will be responsible for the volunteers on your property. It is your responsibility to ensure that your neighbors’ property is not compromised. Just as you have a right to have assistance with the clean-up of your property, your neighbors have the right to request that the volunteers not enter theirs.

Volunteers:
Thank you so much for your very generous offer to assist people in need on Bolivar Peninsula. By donating your time to assist in this effort, you are touching not only the lives of the property owners to whom you are providing assistance, but also to the many people who travel to vacation here.
While many of our neighbors desperately need your assistance, we must also be cognizant of the many property owners who have concerns about the safety and security of their property. We know that you want to make a positive impact on Bolivar Peninsula and that you would prefer to spend your time helping those who want and need your assistance. The best way to accomplish these goals is to ask that all volunteers strictly adhere to the following:
Arrive at intersection of highways 124 and 87 in High Island at 8:30am on Saturday, October 18. (click here for driving directions and map)
Upon arrival, you will meet the property owners with whom you will be working.
As you are assigned to a property owner, he/she will escort you, along with a small team of volunteers, to their property.
The property owner will provide you with direction for cleaning debris from his/her property only.
While you are on Bolivar Peninsula, you are not to leave the immediate vicinity established by the property owner. Keep in mind that even bare land is still someone else’s property.
We ask that you be respectful of all people and personal property that you encounter. We will have security personnel on the peninsula and NO LOOTING will be tolerated.
In accordance with the guidelines established by Galveston County, all persons on Bolivar Peninsula must be vacated by 4pm, no exceptions.
The following is a list of items that we recommend that you bring, if you are able:
· Work gloves
Rubber boots
Wheel barrows
Two-way radios (walkie-talkies)
· Shovels
· Pry-bars and crowbars
Wench
· Wire-cutters
· Trash bags
· Rope

Other
Insect repellent and a long sleeve shirt
A cooler with ice
· Drinking water
· Lunch and snacks
· A roll of toilet paper
· Hand sanitizer
Please note that there is NO RUNNING WATER or ELECTRICITY on the peninsula. You will need to provide your own food and water.

If you have additional questions regarding Beach Out and Help Someone, please send an email to beachout@rebuildbolivar.com

Michelle Obama jokes she's still undecided

I do believe this was last night. An ignorant bitch that I know wanted to know where Michelle Obama has been. I think if she were up your ass Danica, you'd know it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michelle Obama visited The Daily Show last night and told fearless fake-newsman Jon Stewart that she makes her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, work for her vote.
"I tell him, 'If I don't believe you, I'm not voting for you, buddy," Obama said. "'You gotta win me over!'"
But just to make sure she didn't end up in any campaign ads, she clarified that she was indeed, "an Obama Mama."
Catch that and the best of the late-night funnies in the video below from our friends at Primetime in No Time.

wierd cactus flowers now blooming

Herbs to Help Stop Smoking

There are several herbs with a traditional reputation for helping people quit smoking. These herbs exert varying effects that will ease the process of smoking cessation. Most of them can be found in either dried bulk, capsule, or liquid extract form. Follow the directions on the label for use. If using dried herbs, use them only to prepare tea, and never smoke them as a replacement for tobacco.
Lobelia (pictured above): Is a very powerful herb that helps to calm the mind and relax the body. It has helped many people to control their cravings for nicotine. Lobelia is also reputed to have the effect of making cigarettes taste very bad.
St. John’s wort: One of the best known herbs for promoting a positive mental attitude–something people often need help with during the early phases of becoming a non-smoker.
Black cohosh: Is commonly used by women to help them stay balanced during their monthly cycle. However, it is also known to be a safe sedative that relieves nervousness and anxiety, which makes it useful for the irritability, restlessness, and nervousness associated with quitting smoking.
Blue vervain: Has been referred to as a natural tranquilizer and as such it can be used to calm the nerves. It can also be used for insomnia.
Catnip: Has a soothing and relaxing effect on the digestive system, and helps to relieve diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion, upset stomach, and headache. Catnip also has antispasmodic properties that make it useful for abdominal cramps as well as chronic coughing. Catnip is also good for alleviating sleeplessness. Catnip’s antibiotic and astringent properties are also beneficial for treating colds and bronchial infections.
Hyssop: Has the ability to help with clearing mucus congestion in the lungs associated with COPD. It also has been known to alleviate the anxiety and even hysteria that is sometimes associated with smoking withdrawal.
Korean ginseng: Is one of the most popular herbs in the world for stimulating energy and helping the body to deal with stress. This property enables ginseng to help alleviate the fatigue and anxiety related to quitting smoking. Ginseng is known to help reestablish balance in the body’s systems, which can be helpful to smokers as their bodies adjust to the absence of nicotine.
Motherwort: Has properties that enable it to act as a sedative, inducing tranquility in times of anxiety associated with quitting smoking.
Oat straw or oat seed: One of the best remedies for stress, nervous debility, and exhaustion, especially when associated with depression (a common affliction in people who have recently quit smoking).
Peppermint: Has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the digestive system, combats flatulence, and stimulates the flow of bile and other digestive juices. The volatile oil in peppermint acts as a mild anesthetic to the stomach wall, which helps alleviate feelings of nausea. Where headaches are associated with digestion, peppermint may help. Peppermint also eases anxiety and tension.
Skullcap: Contains plant compounds that help the brain produce more endorphins (naturally occurring chemicals that promote feelings of well-being). This is believed to enhance both awareness and calmness. Skullcap relaxes states of nervous tension while renewing and reviving the central nervous system.
Slippery elm: Is rich in nutrients and easy to digest, making it an excellent food during times of digestive discomfort, which can sometimes accompany smoking cessation. It works with the body to draw out impurities and toxins, assisting with the healing of the entire body.
Valerian: One of the premier sedative herbs used to aid people with anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Valerian also acts as a muscle relaxant. Valerian is clearly one of the herbs of choice in smoking cessation to deal with the issues of insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety.
Adapted from Natural Therapies for Emphysema and COPD: Relief and Healing for Chronic Pulmonary Disorders, by Robert J. Green Jr., ND (Healing Arts Press, 2007).

Generation Y explained

Hmm, I've always wondered this myself.
Now I know.
- The Silent generation, people born before 1946.
- The Baby Boomers, people born between 1946 and 1959.
- Generation X, people born between 1960 and 1979.
- Generation Y, people born between 1980 and 1995.
Why do we call the last one generation Y? I did not know, but a caricaturist explains it eloquently below...Learned something new! Now, make someone else laugh and have a great day.

Ring of Fire~Sunday August 10th~@ the Verizon

Medellin executed for rape, murder of Houston teens

My personal thoughts: I think the death penalty was too quick and easy for this guy. I think he should have been gang raped, beaten, strangled with a belt and shoelaces and then stomped until his front teeth were knocked out and ribs were broken. He's a murdering rapist and should've been put to death years ago...I don't give a flying fuck where he was from.
HUNTSVILLE — The state of Texas defied an international court and executed Jose Ernesto Medellin late Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution for the killer in the 1993 Houston gang rape-murders of two teenage girls.
Medellin, 33, was pronounced dead by lethal injection at 9:57 p.m., nine minutes after receiving the fatal cocktail and nearly four hours after his scheduled 6 p.m. execution.
In his final statement, Medellin apologized for his crime: "I'm sorry that my actions brought you pain. I hope this brings the closure to what you seek," he said. "Don't ever hate them for what they do. Never harbor hate."
He then looked toward the witness room in which his friend, Sandra Crisp, was watching, crying softly, and smiled. "I love you," he said.
In the adjoining witness room, relatives of the two victims watched with little apparent emotion.
Medellin, a Mexican national who spent most of his life in the United States, was condemned for the June 1993 murders of Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Peña, 16.
The girls were raped and strangled with a belt and shoelace after they stumbled into a drunken gang initiation rite while cutting through the park to get home before their curfew.
Four days after the crime, a tip from a gang member's brother led authorities to the bodies, then to the suspects.
Within three hours of his arrest, Medellin admitted his role in the gruesome murders, appalling authorities with his boastful, callous description of the night's events.
At issue in Medellin's last-minute appeal was his assertion that authorities refused his right to contact the Mexican Consulate after his arrest. By doing so, his attorneys argued, officials violated a 1963 treaty signed by the U.S. and 165 other countries that should have granted him access. His case stirred international controversy when the United Nations' high court found his rights had been violated. The court ordered the execution be stayed.
While some cheered Texas' decision to execute him on Tuesday, others warned that his death could render the treaty void, putting the lives of American citizens arrested overseas in jeopardy.
The fathers of the victims, however, expressed relief.
"It's a long time coming," Adolfo Peña said, "Fifteen years is a long time. I wish those two girls could've lived that long."
Randy Ertman stood with his arm around Christina Alamaraz, a close friend. He said recent media attention had been too focused on Medellin and not their daughters.
Sandra Babcock, a law professor at Northwestern University in Chicago and an attorney for Medellin, said the case was not just about one Mexican national on death row.
"It's also about ordinary Americans who count on the protections of the consulate when they travel abroad in strange lands," she said. "It's about the reputation of the U.S. as a nation that adheres to the rule of law."
Hours before the execution, death penalty supporters and opponents gathered at Huntsville's Walls Unit, site of the state execution chamber.
Elaine Jackson of Houston, who identified herself as a friend of the Peñas, was among those supporting the execution.
"The girls didn't get a second chance, why should he?" Jackson demanded. "Why should he keep on breathing?"
On the other side of the street, Nancy Bailey was among those opposing the execution. Putting Medellin to death, she said, would flout the nation's treaty commitments and endanger Americans arrested abroad.
Medellin, who granted few interviews on death row, told a Mexican news reporter that he'd had 15 years in prison to compose his emotions. On Monday and Tuesday he visited with his parents, whom he had not seen since 2001, and spoke by phone with his younger brother, who is serving 40 years for his part in the crime.
Jose Medellin had insisted he told police he was a Mexican citizen; Gov. Rick Perry's office said he did not. In 2004, the world court, acting on a Mexican lawsuit against the U.S., ordered hearings to determine if the cases of Medellin and dozens of other Mexican nationals in custody had been damaged by the treaty violations.
President Bush urged the hearings be held. Texas, however, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that only Congress had authority to demand such hearings.
Weeks after the decision, a bill retroactively calling for the hearings was introduced in Congress. The bill, however, remains in legislative limbo.
"Outside of Texas this is a huge diplomatic misstep," said Columbia Law School professor Sarah Cleveland. "Unfortunately, I doubt the international community is likely to brush this off as simply the actions of Texas. In the international community ... the United States is responsible for Texas' actions."
Judge Cathy Cochran, of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, took a different view.
"Some societies may judge our death penalty barbaric," she noted. "Most Texans, however, consider death a just penalty in certain rare circumstances. Many Europeans disagree. So be it."
Medellin was the second person executed for the attack.
Derrick O'Brien was put to death in July 2006. Gang leader Peter Cantu remains on death row. Two others, 17 at the time of the crime, had their death sentences commuted to life in prison.

Houston Roller Derby Carwash Saturday July 19th

All-Girl Roller Derby 2008 ~ Pearland, TX

Another 290/Beltway pic

290 @ Senate

Bad humor

A plane is decreasing speed rapidly downward, the pilot comes over the intercom and says "I'm sorry it had to come to this folks, but unfortunately we're gonna have to let some of the luggage go"...the plane continues to decrease speed.
Again you hear the pilot over the intercom "I hate to have to do this, but now we're gonna have to start releasing passengers by alphabet order beginning with the letter A."
"A!!!"...AFRICANS, ANY AFRICANS?!?... No one answers
"B!!!" BLACK PEOPLE ANY BLACK PEOPLE?!? again, silence.
"C!!!" COLORED PEOPLE, ANY COLORED PEOPLE?!?...silence.
A black boy in the back turns to his mother and says "But mom, aren't we African American? Aren't we black? Aren't we colored?"
The mother turns to her son and says "Yes son, but today we NIGGAS!!!...mexicans go first..."
The little black boy turns to the little mexican and laughs......The mexican kids laughs back and says "Nigga I'm a WETBACK......"

The 6 Worst Swimsuit Foods

Beach season ought to be a sensual time of bare skin and sunshine. But for many of us, sand dunes inspire doom and gloom, as we look down regretfully at our winter-thickened bodies.
Researchers at UCLA surveyed more than 50,000 people — picture the white coats trolling Venice Beach — on body image and swimwear, and they discovered that only one-quarter of men and 12 percent of women feel comfortable wearing a swimsuit in public. Call it Tankini Syndrome: Most of us would rather hide in the beach grass than show off at the beach. And that's no way to approach the sexiest time of the year!Of course, the best way to shape up for the skin season is to make consistently healthy food choices, day in and day out. But research shows that certain foods — from salt-laden salads to sugary summer cocktails — can actually sabotage our smart choices.
Indeed, some foods not only make us fatter, they make us look fatter than we really are, by causing the body to retain water, shocking us with high calories, and otherwise pumping us up in all the wrong ways.
Learning to identify and avoid these bust-out foods could be the difference between a glorious day in surf and sun, and a paranoid one stuck under a mumu, washed up behind the tide-line. Here are six foods that can ruin your summer fun.

1. Caesar salad ~Salt binges can lead to water retention, which gives you way too much in common with a blue whale — and it’s so embarrassing when Greenpeace shows up and tries to roll you back into the water. And with the sodium-soaked trio of anchovies, fried croutons, and Parmesan cheese, Caesar salad is a salt mine in a bowl.
But it’s not just sodium: Caesar ranks right up there with taco salads as the most misbegotten "health" foods out there. Need proof? A Chili’s Chicken Caesar Salad has 1,010 calories, 76 grams of fat, and 1,910 mg sodium. If you spill some of it, you should chuck it over your shoulder for good luck.
2. Potato salad~ This mayo-drenched spud festival may be a summertime staple, but it’s capable of doing both short- and long-term damage to your beach bod. The short-term damage comes from the carbs in the potatoes, which produce gas as they’re digested — cue the on-shore breezes — and the high sodium content: a full cup of the stuff can contain well over 1,000 mg of sodium. And this simple "salad" is one of the most calorie-dense foods on the planet — so you eat now, and pay later, and later, and later.
3. Cruciferous vegetables~ Nutritionists will tell you that cruciferous vegetables — including broccoli, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts — are the best foods for any occasion. And they’re great foods for maintaining long-term weight loss. But we offer a single exception: the moment immediately before you don a swimsuit. These veggies contain a complex sugar called raffinose, which is not digested by the body. Instead of feeding you, the raffinose ends up feeding the uncouth bacteria in your stomach, which express their gratitude by giving you gas and bloating. By all means, go cruciferous after the beach visit, and you'll fill your belly with nutrient-dense foods, not the calorie-dense variety.
4. Chili~ Chili's paunch-heavy impact deserves a mention, especially since the meat-and-bean concoction is so likely to decorate countless hot dogs this summer. Even without meat, chili can have you nervously clutching your belly with both hands to cover the swell-and-ripple effect of too much sodium and a big helping of beans (beans are the most abundant source of the bloating sugar raffinose). Even Au Bon Pain’s Low-Fat Vegetarian Chili has nearly 1,300 mg of sodium and a slurry of beans in a 12-ounce cup. Make your own low-salt bowl at home, though, and you'll have a healthy meal and process it before sunrise. Assuming you can work out any after-effects with your family and friends, it's all good.
5. Margarita~ For many, the beach and neon-tinted booze go hand in hand, but this summertime favorite hits you on two levels: First, with a tide of sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup that comprises 99 percent of margarita mixes out there. Second is the immediate impact of the salt-encrusted rim, which will keep all of that liquid stored up in your midsection. A 12-ounce goblet rings up 564 calories and 2,150 mg of sodium. A couple of these will have your belly looking more like a water balloon than a washboard.
6. Beef and Broccoli ~Remember what we said about the raffinose in cruciferous vegetables? That's the first reason you should avoid the beef-and-broccoli special at the Chinese takeout. If they serve it over lo mien noodles, the carb payload can create a gas build-up as it passes through your system.
The beach-body death blow, however, comes from the guaranteed quadruple-digit sodium count in so many Chinese dishes. For perspective, P.F. Chang’s traditional beef and broccoli dish has more than a day’s worth of sodium — plus 65 grams of fat, enough to cloud the entire vacation weekend.
As for the very best foods you should be eating when you're feeling fat, stressed, sad, tired — or want an instant brain boost or to get "in the mood" — check out these superb food fixes for whatever your body or mind may need.
And when you're out, these 15 restaurant swaps can help you avoid a dietary disaster. Have other suggestions? Please share them with all of us here.

random pics

Best Cities to Live, Work and Play

These ten great places will only get better.
Our approach this year to picking the ten best cities in which to live and work was simple: Look for places with strong economies and abundant jobs, then demand reasonable living costs and plenty of fun things to do. When we ran the numbers, some of the names that popped up made us do a double take at first. So we hit the road to meet movers, shakers and regular folks, experience the ambience and take in the sights.
More from Kiplinger.com: • Top Ten Best Cities at a Glance • Which City Is Best for You? • Take Virtual Tours of Our Top Ten Best Cities
We discovered that our numbers guru, Kevin Stolarick, hadn't steered us wrong. Stolarick, research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity, says: "Our formula highlights cities not just with strong past performance, but also with all the ingredients for future success." One key to a bright future is a healthy shot of people in the creative class. People in creative fields -- scientists, engineers, architects, educators, writers, artists and entertainers -- are catalysts of vitality and livability in a city.
The cities that made our list also represent larger surrounding areas. And because we understand that city living isn't for everyone, we've highlighted some great suburbs, too.
Pack a bag and join us on a tour of the Best Cities for 2008 and prepare for some surprises.
1. Houston
Population: 5,542,048
Population Growth Since 2000: 14.9%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.3%
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.1 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $50,250
Income Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
2. Raleigh
Population: 995,662
Population Growth Since 2000: 19.9%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 99 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $56,150
Income Growth Since 2000: 10.3%
3. Omaha
Population: 821,356
Population Growth Since 2000: 6.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30%
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $51,627
Income Growth Since 2000: 15.1%
4. Boise
Population: 568,086
Population Growth Since 2000: 18.2%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 33.2%
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.5 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $49,833
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.6%
5. Colorado Springs
Population: 600,444
Population Growth Since 2000: 10.5%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 95.3 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income Since 2000: 53,486
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.1%
6. Austin
Population: 1,506,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 17%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.5%
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.8 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $52,882
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%
7. Fayettville
Population: 419,455
Population Growth Since 2000: 17.3%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 31.4%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.4 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $42,267
Income Growth Since 2000: 17.6%
8. Sacramento
Population: 2,067,117
Population Growth Since 2000: 13.1%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34%
Cost-of-Living Index: 121.7 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $56,953
Income Growth Since 2000: 19.1%
9. Des Moines
Population: 532,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 9.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.6 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $53,384
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.3%
10. Provo
Population: 474,351
Population Growth Since 2000: 20.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32%
Cost-of-Living Index: 97.7 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $50,583
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%
For more places, tools and walking tours, visit Kiplinger.com's Best Cities Center.
Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

See a Huge Moon Illusion Wednesday - TONIGHT

As the full moon rises this Wednesday evening, June 18, many people will be tricked into thinking it's unusually large. The moon illusion, as it's known, is a trick in our minds that makes the moon seem bigger when it's near the horizon. The effect is most pronounced at full moon. Many people swear it's real, suggesting that perhaps Earth's atmosphere magnifies the moon.
But it really is all in our minds. The moon is not bigger at the horizon than when overhead.
The illusion will be particularly noticeable at this "solstice moon," coming just two days before summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason, according to NASA, lies in lunar mechanics: The sun and full moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging moon and a strong, long-lasting version of the illusion.
If it's any consolation, space station astronauts report the same effect.
Here's how it works: Your mind believes things on the horizon are farther away than things overhead, because you are used to seeing clouds just a few miles above, but the clouds on the horizon can indeed be hundreds of miles away. So if we think something (such as the moon) is farther away, and it's not, then it seems larger.
If you remain doubtful, test the idea yourself. Go out at moonrise with a small object, perhaps a pencil eraser. Hold it at arm's length as the moon rises and compare the sizes of the moon and the eraser, then repeat the experiment an hour or two later when the moon is high in the sky. A rolled up tube of paper works well, too.
Moonrise times vary by location. On Wednesday, it will come up at these local times at these locations, according to NASA: New York City, 8:58 p.m.; Miami, 8:35 p.m.; Seattle, 9:51 p.m.
The moon rises about 50 minutes earlier Tuesday night, when the effect will also be noticeable because the moon will be nearly full. Oh, and that raises another fallacy: There's no such thing as a full moon.
Additional moonrise times for your location are available from the U.S. Naval Observatory Web site.
Key to All Optical Illusions Discovered
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Original Story: See a Huge Moon Illusion Wednesday
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10 Special Places to See Before You Die

(Places that I'll never see)

Life is short, and there is an understandable urge to check off the planet’s main attractions first. But you are unlikely to have the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal to yourself. After a lifetime of travel, I’ve found that the more out-of-the-way places leave the deepest impression.
Most people have a list of favorite spots, from a weekend retreat to a bench with a view of the ocean. As someone who's been lucky enough to spend the last 30 years circling the globe, here is mine. From Zen monasteries to Roman villas, French villages to Incan temples, all possess a unique sense of place and inspire a feeling of quiet wonder.
If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity, do seek them out; they are still points of the turning world, serene places filled with immense beauty. And if you get up early enough, you may have them to yourself for a little while. A list of specifically American places will follow soon.
Since I make my living reviewing the world’s finest boutique hotels, I have also recommended some nearby places to stay.
1. Italy — The exquisite Villa Farnesina in Rome, hidden away in the Trastevere district, with frescoes by Raphael. It is said that while he was painting the villa, Raphael had an affair with the daughter of a nearby baker, “La Fornarina,” who became the subject of one of his most celebrated and enigmatic portraits. Situated on the west bank of the Tiber River (its name means "Across the Tiber"), the charming medieval neighborhood of Trastevere is a wonderful place to stroll. And in the evening, eat at one of the restaurants in the marvelous Piazza di Santa Maria.
Harper hotel: Hotel de Russie.
2. Australia — Arnhem Land. The Northern Territory is still chiefly populated by Australia’s Aboriginal people, who have inhabited this lonely expanse of outback for more than 40,000 years. During that time, they have left an astonishing legacy of rock art. Virtually every suitable flat surface has been painted, and the area is like a vast outdoor art gallery.
Harper hotel: Seven Spirit Bay.
3. Peru — The Inca capital of Cuzco in the Andes. Largely destroyed by the Spanish conquistadores, its fabulous Coricancha, the golden Temple of the Sun, was incorporated into the Church of Santo Domingo. Centuries later, it was rediscovered, hidden beneath a few inches of stucco. The gold had gone, but much of the extraordinary and evocative structure remained intact.
Harper hotel: Hotel Monasterio.
4. France — The tiny village of Ste.-Anne-la-Palud on the windswept Breton coast. Surrounded by the remains of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall (built to defend against the Allied invasion), it overlooks a couple of miles of glorious ocean-swept sand. Less known than neighboring Normandy, Brittany has many long and scenic beaches, and the Atlantic yields some of the finest seafood to be found anywhere in the world.
Harper hotel: Hôtel de la Plage.
5. England — The lovely, unspoiled Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, with its mysterious 13th-century church of St. Just in Roseland. The hauntingly beautiful church is set just above a serene tidal creek and is ringed by subtropical gardens. In April, the rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in every imaginable shade of red and purple.
Harper hotel: Hotel Tresanton, St. Mawes.
6. Indonesia — The extraordinarily dramatic and picturesque gorge of the turbulent Ayung River in Bali, near the highland town and artist colony of Ubud. Ten-thousand-foot volcanoes survey a landscape of lush rice terraces. Balinese religion and mythology have constructed a vast and colorful spirit world. In the Ayung Gorge, even foreign visitors begin to sense the landscape’s invisible inhabitants.
Harper hotel: Como Shambhala Estate.
7. Morocco — The road south from Marrakech, crossing the epic Tizi n'Test Pass in the Atlas Mountains then descending toward the fortified town of Taroudant at the gateway to the Sahara. The sinuous drive from the snowcapped peaks to rolling desert sands through small Berber villages is utterly spellbinding.
Harper hotel: La Gazelle d'Or.
8. Namibia — The majestic valley of the Huab River, dominated by the huge massif of the Brandberg (the country’s highest mountain) and home to the famous desert elephant, which have provided endless opportunities for National Geographic’s photographers and filmmakers. More than twice the size of California, Namibia is an arid, sparsely populated country where savagely beautiful deserts extend to the breaking surf of the Skeleton Coast (named for the many shipwrecks caused by strong tides and ferocious winds).
Harper hotel: Damaraland Camp.
9. Japan — The magical Zen garden of Ryoanji temple in Kyoto, constructed from weathered rocks and raked gravel. The capital of Japan from 794 until 1868, Kyoto is a treasure house of Japanese culture, with more than 2,000 temples and shrines. The garden dates to the late 1400s and contains 15 moss-covered stones, of which only 14 are visible at any one time. Only the enlightened can see all 15!
Harper hotel: Tawaraya Ryokan.
10. South Africa — The unbelievably pretty town of Franschhoek, founded in the 17th century by Huguenot (French Protestant) exiles. Just an hour’s drive from Cape Town, it is at the center of the South African wine industry. High, jagged mountains rear out of manicured vineyards. Even the inhabitants of Napa and Sonoma freely concede that the Franschhoek Valley is the most beautiful wine-growing area in the world. Along the main street, you will find craft shops, art galleries and some of South Africa’s finest restaurants. Life feels good!
Harper hotel: Le Quartier Français.

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Here's some spam for you

Please email John if you wish to receive my "inheritance" ha ha

"John Grishan" jgrishan2@mailbox.hu
Subject:
ADMINISTRATOR

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~Wierd Pics of Cats~