well I'm not about to read every post in this thread but I will say this.

We have just as many dumbasses per capita as the US does. SO THERE!

Zen, I lived in Birmingham from the age of 17 until I was 29. I wholeheartedly disagree with your characterization of the city of Birmingham and of Alabama. I enjoyed living there and never saw any reason to classify it as "a place of deep Racism and Hate". The problems that happened in Birmigham that led to this stereotype happened 40 years ago. Judge the city on what it is today, not in the past. I also lived in Chicago from age 37 to 42. Chicago is a great city but I would much rather live in Birmingham if given the choice. The people are friendlier. Chicago folks are friendly too, but generally only after they get to know you. In Birmingham, and Alabama in general, the folks are friendly even when they pass a stranger on the street, regardless of the color of said stranger.

I'm not trying to be offensive Col. , hell it was over 20 years ago.

I was just trying to make a point about judging poeple on apperance and where they came from.

Roger that Zen. No offense taken. I just had to stand up for B'ham 'cause it's one of my favorite towns in these old United States of America. (of course, it has been over 20 years ago since I lived there too. It is entirely possible that both of us lived there at the same time and our individual experiences left us with opposite impressions of the same city - but like I said, I had to stick up for the Magic City) biggrin: beer: