(For those of you that mention Alaska- just wait until the ice melts.)

When we moved from Texas, we were in North Carolina for over a year before I saw my first NC flag. I had no idea what it looked like for that entire time. Compare this to Texas- just about everywhere you go there is a Texas flag. Restaurants, businesses, etc. And since Texas was it's own country from 1826-1836, the Texas flag can be flown at the same level as the US flag- all the other states (perhaps exempting California- anyone know?) must be flown below the US flag.

Yesterday I noticed that Budweiser and Bud Light both have Texas icons or outlines on the front label. This is only true in Texas. The funny thing is that Bud is not made, brewed, or bottled in Texas. They just put the label on so that Texans will buy it.

Ford has a Texas version of their F-150. Again, they aren't made in Texas. Anyone ever here of a Tennessee version? A Maine version?

When I was in Europe, whenever I mentioned I was from Texas, everyone immediately knew that was where Bush was from. I'm not sure how many Americans would know that, and I seriously doubt that anyone (Europeans or Americans) would have known where Clinton was from.

The anti-litter campaign down here, which I understand was a huge success, was "Don't Mess With Texas".

I was driving down the street (after writing this), and saw a Tecate beer truck at a store. The side of it said "Tecatexas". Yet another example!

I think it's interesting that a state can have such pride.