That is why it should be no surprise for the Chinese to come across as being earnest about not having let the seven year old singer appear instead of the none year old who was revealed as having just mouthed the opening music. I cannot understand why the younger girl did not appear but according to certain Chinese officials she did not represent what the Chinese image was supposed to be. What kind of nonsense is this? After all she may not have been as animated as the older one but she is a child just the same and there is no reason why she could not have appeared. Looks like China is either rationalizing why they are being false or they are catching on to an occidental phenomena of presenting a polished image of a singing girl rather than showing the real stuff. Either way the old Chinese mentality of not declaring their real intentions at the beginning of an event has to change, it shows them as being false.

The same message should be related to the polished image of fireworks, which was adjusted digitally because they would not have been identified through pictures of a smoky Beijing atmosphere. Everybody knows that China's main city has gray horizons so why not do something and cut down on the smog instead of dolling up Olympic pictures. China may have made a great change in pushing the envelope further as far as certain Olympic events are concerned but it has to be more honest regarding the image it projects.

• Pancake Breakfast- From 8:30 to 11 am there is a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall.
• Parade- There will be a parade and live music starting at 1 pm.
• Independence Day Celebration- Directly after the parade, head to Nehalem Bay Winery for a BBQ and live music and dancing. There is no cover charge, and the whole family is invited to attend. Nehalem Bay Winery is on Highway 53 near Wheeler, one mile from the Highway 101 junction. For more information, call (888)368-9463, or check them out on the web.
• Fireworks-Fireworks will take over the skies at dusk. If you want a real treat, pack some food and head up early to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain north of Manzanita, and enjoy the fireworks displays from Seaside, Manzanita, and Rockaway Beach. Be sure to get there long before the show!

Rockaway Beach

• Parade-A Parade will march through Rockaway Beach starting at 11 am. It will start at the School Administration Building, and head down to Hwy 101 from Bank to Third.
• 4th of July Auction-Directly after the parade, there will be an auction hosted by the Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce at the Red Caboose at Wayside.
• Kids Fun Day on the Beach-The Lion's Club sponsors this annual event featuring games and excitement for children of all ages. The fun gets underway at 1pm.
• Fireworks Display-When the sun goes down, the fireworks will fly over the beach. It's truly a site to see.
• For more information call (503)355-2291

Oceanside

• Fireworks-The town of Oceanside, which is West of Tillamook, will be set at dusk. The display can be seen from Netarts.

Pacific City

• Pacific City's Independence Day celebration will coincide with the Clover Days celebration, and be on Saturday, the 5th of July rather than the traditional day, July 4th
• All-you-can-eat breakfast-7-10 am, the Lin's will be hosting a pancake all-you-can-eat breakfast at the VFW Hall. Prices are $6.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children under 12.
• Kid's Corner-From 10 am-3 pm, kids can enjoy a free surrey ride, free ice cream, a bouncy house, a Ferrier demonstration, art, food, and vendors.
• Parade-At 11 am, come see the 27th annual Clover's Day Parade.
• Free Concert-Immediately following the parade, there will be a free convert featuring the popular "Calamity Jazz" from Eugene, Oregon. Bridge street will be closed for the show.
• Fireworks-The fireworks will be set off on the beach at dark.
• Kiwanda Music Festival-At 2 pm, six bands from all over Oregon, with diverse styles of music will play at the southwest corner of the Cape Kiwanda parking lot. There will also be arts and craft vendors. For more information, call (541)996-7746.
• For all Clover's Day information, please contact the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce at (503)392-4340, or email them at manager@pcnvchamber.org. For firework information, call (503)965-7102.

Malaysia

Like other parts of the world, Malaysia too, celebrates the New Year's Day with great excitement and joyful. Malaysians prefer to celebrate New Year's Eve with much merry-making at public squares like Dataran Merdeka, hotels and restaurants. Though Malaysia is a multi-racial country with races includes Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Eurasians, Portuguese, indigenous people and other minority races, we are here celebrated the New Year's celebration in harmonious and tranquility, regardless of religions, customs, languages and races. This unity spirit marks the strong unity among the citizens of Malaysians without bios and racism, which highlights the beauty of Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysians gather one hour earlier at the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. Dataran Merdeka is just like the Times Square of New York. Almost all the restaurants and shops have their premises decorated with colorful bulbs, balloons and steamers. The Malaysian flag or “Jalur Gemilang” and the state's flags are swinging gracefully on top of the premises. People prefer to come out in the streets and stay until daybreak to cheer for the arrival of New Year rather than sit in front of the television, as they want to capture the full excitement moment in the mood of New Year's celebration. People will gather at stadiums, coffee shops, café, restaurants, KLCC, Genting Highlands and all parts of states in Malaysia shouting Happy New Year or “Selamat Tahun Baru” to each other when the clock strikes 12 at midnight.

The unique of Malaysians here are unity and family oriented. A day before the New Year in Malaysia, all family members from far of places return to their hometowns for the reunion dinners. We are proud to be Malaysians!

China

In the early morning on January 1, 2008, the Beijing Tiananmen held a grand flag-raising ceremony.

Flag-raising ceremony in China

People from all parts of China gathered here to watch the ceremony while greeting the arrival of 2008.

A child was sitting on the adult's shoulder while watching the flag-raising ceremony.

Japan

Every year on 1 January, Japanese celebrate their New Year or also known as Oshiogatsu or shogatsu. In general, the New Year in Japan commences on 31 December and lasts until 3 January. On every 31 December at the midnight, Buddhist temples ring their bells for 108 times on the last night of the passing year all over Japan. This event is also another major attraction called The Watched night bell held every year in Tokyo during the New Year's Day. The night bell is stricken 108 times symbolizes the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief and get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese nation. Japanese believe that the tolling of the bells can get rid off their sins of the previous year.

Dezomenshiki in Japan

In Tokyo, the capital of Japan, people bid farewell to the past year and welcome the New Year by undertaking some activities such as Dezomeshiki (New Year's parade of firefighters. Traditional acrobatic stunts are performed by the firefighters of Tokyo in the parade during the New Year's Day in Tokyo) and Special Opening of the Imperial Palace Grounds.

Tokyo, Japan

Japanese eat Herring roe or fish egg (symbolizing fertility), black beans (symbolizing health), dried chestnuts (symbolizing success) and prawns as omens (symbolizing happiness) on the mood of celebrating the arrival of New Year. They also have their traditional mouthwatering delicacies called mochi or white rice cake breakfast called zouni.

Before the New Year's day, they sent cards to their relatives and friends but the postmen will keep them and only deliver the New Year's greeting cards or nengajo at one time on 1 January. All Japanese put on beautiful and finely knitted Japanese traditional costumes to greet their guests. Females will wear Kimono or Yugata on this day.

Japanese children play karuta or a card game, some play hanetsuki or a badminton type of game, and some have takoage or kite flying during New Year's Day. Parents give their children money or otoshidama on New Year's Day. In Japan, Japanese will do hatsu-mode by paying holly visits to Shinto temples and shrines to pray for a healthy and Happy New Year. They put decorations outside their house with pine and bamboo or Kado-matsu to celebrate New Year. They display a large steamed rice cake or Kagami-mochi in a place of importance in the house until 11 January.

South Korea

On 1 January, Korean people rush to sunrise sites in the eastern Gangwon Province and Southern city of Busan (the largest port city in the South Korea) to see the first sunrise of the New Year. Some gather at the east coast cities of Gangneung and Donghae to make wishes as the sun rose on the New Year. Korean Folk Village features at hosting some traditional games and events all over the Korea on New Year's Day. The festival mood of New Year's Eve Celebration includes a series of Korean cultural performances in central Seoul.

Watching sunrise in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea

On New Year's Eve, more than 150-thousand Korean people gather in Jongno district to witness the striking of an old temple bell at the Bosingak (Bonshingak, made in 1468,is the largest pavilion among the Korea's national treasures) pavilion. The bell rings 33 times to greet the coming of New Year. As the festive mood in Korea mounted, Korean people attend a variety of ceremonies and events, including parades, fireworks and traditional cultural performances till the end of the New Year's Day on 1 January every year.

United States of America

One of the unique and unusual New Year's celebrations in United States is the Mummer's Parade (This custom is brought to Philadephia by European settlers and dates back to medieval England, where troupes of costumed performers went house from house presenting a folk drama or Mummer's play at Christmas time. “Mummer” in German refers to a mask. The earliest known Mummer's club was formed in the 1840s and the first official "Mummer's Parade" was held in Philadelphia in 1901) held in Philadelphia on 1 January every year. This parade features at elaborating costumes with ornate costumes that rival those in Mardi Gras parades, comedy and string bands of accordions, saxes, drums, violins, banjos, bass fiddles, glockenspiels, and clarinets. A slide show of the parade is available from Mummer's museum while its photographs are available from Mummer's Picture Gallery.

New York Times Square, U.S.A

The New Year's celebration at Time Square, New York was the ball drop, and its streaming video clips are available at EarthCam.com. The first Ball lowering celebration held on headquarters in Times Square, New York on December 31, 1907 and has proceeded for the past 100 years.

The Waterford Ball is a geodesic sphere with six feet in diameter, and weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. During the New Year at Time Square, New York every year, people there lower the ball. There are 504 Waterford crystal triangles engraved with the names of those lost in the World Trade Center on the ball, with the decoration of 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high-density strobe lights and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors.

In celebrating the arrival of 2008, the Bow Tie of Time Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway and 7th Ave.) was unavailable to traffic. After lighting the New Year's Eve ball, city officials and guests at the Countdown Stage in the center of Times Square will ring a commemorative bell. By pushing the Waterford crystal button, it marked the final sixty-second countdown prior to the Ball Lowering. The numerals of the New Year “2008” shone high above Times Square, with the light bulbs on the New Year's Eve Ball turned off. A two-minute pyrotechnic display illuminated and glistered with the bursts of custom-mixed colors in the sky above One Times Square accompanying with special effects of computer. The release of the world-famous New Year's Eve confetti from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square marking the start of New Year and the people cheered happily and contentedly in the mood of New Year's celebration.

United Kingdom, U.K.

New Year in Britain is a time to drink, eat and dance either at homes or with friends in a club or pub when clock strikes 12 at midnight. Different countries and cities in Britain have their own unique ways to welcome the New Year but the spirit to celebrate the New Year in each person's heart is the same all over the Britain.

The other main feature of New Year in Britain is the tradition custom of “First Footers”, which believes that the first person over the threshold on the New Year's Day will dictate the luck to bring to the particular house on 1 January. Scotland and Northern Ireland had followed this tradition with the first footers bringing in a piece of coal, bread and whisky while crossing the threshold.

London, England

Chinese New Year's Day Parade, London

London's New Year's Day Parade, also known as Hogmanay is famous all over the world. Over thousands of people, more than 10,000 musicians, dancers, clowns and acrobats gather and feast at Trafalgar Square while waiting eagerly for the arrival of New Year. London is by far the best city to be on the New Year's Eve for some of its excellent bars and clubs. Last but not the least, is the traditional dragon dancing, music and entertainment at London's Chinatown.

Scotland

People celebrate Hogmanay (Hogmanay's culture roots back to the pagan practice of sun and fire worship in the deep mid-winter. This fire symbolizes how the light of the knowledge to be handed over from one year to the next, which carries forward the light of hope to a better world) or Scottish New Year on 31 December every year. It has become a great festive season at the large city of Glasgow and Edinburgh. To view “1000 pipers” gathered at Edinburg castle and piping their way down to Holyrood palace, go to Homnanay.com and click some of the video clips.

Fireworks display, Hogmanay's Street Party, Dornoch, Scotland

When the bells of Big Ben chimed at the midnight, everyone sang Auld Lang Syne with lots of kisses. The words to this song are as follows:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o'kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

Scotland “Firstfooting,” (Each year, groups of friends or families do a tour to each others' houses and each family takes turn to provide the meal for the group) and Ceilidhs (Scottish dances) took place in the most remote parts of Scotland. The children in Scotland went from house to house collecting oatcakes. Grand parties were held everywhere at this night, and people celebrated the arrival of New Year with Scottish dances or Ceilidhs.

Spain

Eating 12 grapes is a custom that makes New Year celebrations in Spain unique and New Year in Spain is worth visiting for his nightlife. The night view during the New Year's celebration is amazing, so make sure to be a part of the New Year in Madrid. Spanish people keep 12 grapes ready at the beginning of the New Year and eat one with each chime of the clock symbolizing the 12 months of the year. The grape eating custom dates back to the King of Spain, who gave grapes to everybody to eat on the New Year's Eve with jest and enthusiasm.

As soon as the clock strikes 12, people gather at the Puerta del Sol Square in Madrid cheered happily for the entry of the New Year. New Year in Spain indeed enchants the visitors with the atmosphere dipped in true festive mood, atmosphere and decorations all over the Spain.

In Barcelona, people also participate in 12 grapes eating tradition when clock strikes at 12 midnight. People here are having party, dance, music, drinking and feasting with great enjoyment, enlightening the New Year's atmosphere. Visitors may come to experience countless surprises while having rock band performances to salsa, and from ballroom dance to gourmet delights. Another feature of New Year celebrations include the arrival of Magos who distribute candies and lollipops to all in The Procession of the Three Kings, bottle rockets and other aerial fireworks are being shot off all over the city particularly in Barcelona, furnishing Spain with an aura of jollity and festive atmosphere.

Spanish people celebrated the arrival of the New Year or Año nuevo

A buffoon shakes his hands during a New Year's celebration in Spain's Madrid on December 31, 2007

Germany

In German language, “Silvester” refers to New Year's Eve as the name suggests that a pope who lived in the fourth century has his feast day of Saint Sylvester on 31 December. People here celebrate New Year by dancing, singing, drinking and getting merry. Many Germans prefer playing games to foretell the future of the arrival of the New Year. Dropping molten lead into cold water is one of the famous games that predicting the future according to the shapes it takes in the cold water. Some prefer to share this special moment with their friends and loved ones.

When the clock strikes at 12 midnight, Germans hug and wish each other Happy New Year. To celebrate New Year's Eve, Germans usually splash a bottle of fine champagne, burn eye-catching fireworks and party hard.

Germany Brandenburg Gate

In Frankfurt, a city rich in culture and tradition, the sky is dazzling with brilliant firework display. On the New Year's Eve, in almost all the pubs and clubs in Frankfurt, one cannot stop from munching the delicious almond cookies called Brenten, Bethmännchen and drinks like Kinderpunch and Apfelwein. On every 1 January, the traditional New Year's concert is held annually at Alte Oper with performances include Maurice Ravel's Alborada del Cracioso, Klavierkonzert G-Dur, Boris Blacher's Orchestervariationen über ein Thema von Paganini and Mazeppa. Meanwhile in Hamburg, as soon as the clock strikes 12 at midnight, the church bells toll and ships sound their horns, which marks the merriment of the New Year. New Year is a gala event where dance, party and usher in the New Year bidding adieu to the old in the stylist city of Germany has become an important festival in Hamburg, Germany.

France

The French celebrate New Year on 1 January by exchanging gifts, cards and goodies as if Americans celebrate Christmas. Initially, people celebrated the New Year's Day known as “La Saint Sylyestre” in France since 1582.

Paris, France

During the French New Year's Eve, people celebrate with grand pomp and show. Various cultural programs too, take place during the New Year's Day. French make every moment approaching New Year by partying hard with family and dear ones, and bid a joyful farewell to the past year while welcoming the New Year with sparkling success, glorious and excitement. The New Year's holidays in France ends on 6 January with a tradition of cutting cake and types of cakes are in varieties depends on the place where you are in France.

Australia

During New Year in Australia, the Sydney Harbor Bridge is dazzling with more than 80,000 fireworks lit at the Circular Quay in vicinity to the Sydney Opera House. During the New Year's Eve, from a 16km radius around Sydney, one can see the fireworks sparkling with glorious, joyful, and more than 300,000 tourists from all over the world who want to capture the glimpse of the famous fireworks set their legs in Sydney. Everyone set eyes on the clock waiting eagerly for the arrival of the New Year.

Sydney, Australia

Australians prefer to go on picnics, outing and camping on beaches as ways to bid farewell to the past year and at the same time welcoming the arrival of the New Year. Meanwhile, people enjoy themselves by having New Year Party, camping and enjoying bonfires in Sydney. As soon as the clock strikes at sharp 12 at midnight, they ring the Church bells with excitement. People there make loud noises, blow car horns, whistles and shouting Happy New Year to each other. The spirit to celebrate the New Year is the same no matter whether they are at the seaside, in a dance club, at home, in the shopping complex, in a hotel and any other places all over the Australia.

In celebrating the arrival of 2008, people have party along with their beloved family, relatives and friends in Melbourne accompanying with the hottest rock bands performing on Melbourne beaches. For the community of Chinese-Australia, spectacular Great Dragon appears in the streets of Melbourne, marking the arrival of the New Year.

Good-bye 2007, welcome 2008!

Visit Malaysia Year, also known as Visit Malaysia, is an event in Malaysia officially declared on New Year's Day with pomp and splendor amid a spectacular fireworks display and a colorful concert showcasing the diversity of the nation. The declaration was made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the historical Dataran Merdeka before some 100,000 Malaysians from all walks of life just before the stroke of midnight.

Visit Malaysia Year 2007 is expected to increase the number of tourist arrivals to the country from the current 15 million to 20 million in 2007. The country targets to attract some 17.3 million tourists this year. The third edition of Visit Malaysia Year is in 2007, after 1990 and 1994, is considered special because it coincides with Malaysia's 50th year of independence and nationhood. Come visit Malaysia this year, we have many festival and events through out all nationwide as listed.

January

• Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007 Grand Launch 1 January 2007
• Visit Malaysia Campaign 1 January 2007 Until 31 December 2007
• Eye on Malaysia 1 January 2007 Until 31 December 2007
• Flora Fest 20 January 2007 Until 4 February 2007

February

• Thaipusam Festival 1 February 2007
• Federal Territory Day 1 February 2007
• Le Tour de Langkawi 2 February 2007 Until 11 February 2007
• Malaysia Open Golf Championship 8 February 2007 Until 11 February 2007
• Chinese New Year Celebration and Open House 18 February 2007

March

• Malaysia GP Sale 2007 24 March 2007 Until 22 April 2007
• Taman Negara Eco-Challenge 24 March 2007 Until 25 March 2007

April

• KL GP City Festival 1 April 2007 Until 8 April 2007
• Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix 6 April 2007 Until 8 April 2007
• Royal Go-Kart Competition 10 April 2007

May

• Wesak Day 1 May 2007
• National Water Festival - Labuan International Sea Challenge 1 May 2007 Until 6 May 2007
• Johor International Orchid Show 25 May 2007 Until 27 May 2007
• World Harvest Festival 2007 & Gawai Dayak Sarawak 26 May 2007 Until 2 June 2007
• Colours of Malaysia 26 May 2007
• Tadau Keamatan 30 May 2007 Until 31 May 2007

June

• Malaysia International Aerospace Exhibition 5 June 2007 Until 7 August 2007
• Penang International Dragon Boat Festival 8 June 2007 Until 10 June 2007
• Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 16 June 2007 Until 2 September 2007
• Japan GT 22 June 2007 Until 24 June 2007
• Fiesta San Pedro 23 June 2007 Until 29 June 2007
• Penang Bridge International Marathon 24 June 2007

July

• Ipoh Open International Run 1 July 2007
• Rainforest World Music Festival 2007 13 July 2007 Until 15 July 2007
• World Music Festival 2007 - Botanical Garden, Penang 20 July 2007 Until 22 July 2007
• Port Dickson International Triathlon 21 July 2007 Until 22 July 2007
• KL Fest 29 July 2007

August

• Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge 3 August 2007 Until 4 August 2007
• 50 Years of Nationhood - World Lion Dance Invitation 3 August 2007 Until 5 August 2007
• Malaysia International Fireworks Competition 15 August 2007 Until 30 August 2007
• Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon 25 August 2007 Until 26 August 2007
• 50 Years of Nationhood - Merdeka Month Celebration 17 August 2007 Until 16 September 2007

September

• Sarawak Regatta 1 September 2007 Until 2 September 2007
• Malaysian Motorcycle Cub Prix 7 September 2007 Until 9 September 2007
• KL International Butt Show 7 September 2007 Until 9 September 2007
• Penang International Lantern Festival 15 September 2007 Until 14 October 2007

October

• Hari Raya Aidilfitri Celebration and Open House 13 October 2007
• Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 27 October 2007 Until 31 October 2007
• Heart of Borneo 4X4 Safari 28 October 2007 Until 4 November 2007

November

• Malaysia International Gourmet Festival 2 November 2007 Until 29 November 2007
• World Drumstick Festival 3 November 2007 Until 10 November 2007
• Deepavali Celebration and Open House 17 November 2007
• Malaysia A1 Grand Prix (Grand Prix of Nations) 26 November 2007 Until 28 November 2007
• Terengganu Monsoon Cup 2007 28 November 2007 Until 2 December 2007

December

• Malaysia Year End Sale Carnival 1 December 2007 Until 1 January 2008
• KL International Buskers Festival 1 December 2007 Until 9 December 2007
• Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 4 December 2007 Until 8 December 2007
• Christmas Celebration and Open House 25 December 2007

In conjuction of Visit Malaysia 2007. Malaysian government has introduce Hop-In-Hop-On bus where all this buses will take travel along around the Kuala Lumpur. Visit Malaysia is one of the biggest events in Malaysia. Join all other tourist and feel the safest living place among us. For more information and details, you can search on website about us and do not hesitate to travel from anywhere of the world to Malaysia.

Listed above is the events nationwide, we also have many other places that promise you such an attractive and fascinating experiences when you come visit Malaysia. Among the favorite places is Malacca, where you can find an ancient building such as Stadthuys, The A'Famosa, The Albuqueqe ship and many more. As on Perak, you can find a Kellie's castle that build on the time of English people. You can visit Sarawak for its popular Cave called Niah. The largest cave in the world. You can also feel the tastes of malaysian cuisine like Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, Nasi Dagang and many more.

Support us with Visit Malaysia 2007. There is so many ways to enjoy yourself here!!

In New Mexico, in the southern and central region you will find a town called Truth or Consequences. “Truth or Consequences, New Mexico” is the title of a film starring and directed by Kiefer Sutherland. It’s something of a tragedy, that movie.

Truth or Consequences was once called Hot Springs, named for the natural hot springs found in the area. The name was changed in the middle part of the last century for what was then a popular radio game show.

Just outside of Truth or Consequences you will find Elephant Butte Lake, at one time one of the greatest and most treasured of lakes in the American southwest, and hopefully it will be again soon. It’s just too bad the foolish politicians and bureacrats of that state drained that particular lake for Texas and Mexico. There are plenty of other lakes, where the governor’s rich friends play, that could have been drained. Oh well, hopefully, in a few years Elephant Butte will be back to its onetime splendor.

About thirty miles outside of the Truth or Consequences area the world’s first commercial space station, owned by the Virgin Corporation is being constructed. In less then a decade, healthy individuals with a decent-sized pocket book will be able to soar up past the clouds and see a view of an earth only possible in science fiction movies of the decades past.

The official state capital of New Mexico is Santa Fe, a rather liberal city, rich in art, culture, history and sophistication.

However, “the city” of New Mexico, one referred to by Bugs Bunny, who should have taken a left turn here, is Albuquerque. Known as “Buque” or “Burque” (pronounced Boo-keh with emphasis on the second syllable) to the locals, this city provides the youth with the city environment the so crave—the clubs, the night life, and the crime that has made Albuquerque a favorite site for the popular television show “Cops.”

Financially speaking, New Mexico is not a wealthy state. Some would joke that the economy is based on three things: tourism, drugs, and law enforcement to fight the drugs. Sure, this state is in the heart of the American drug pipeline. Some of the people here, are willing to accept that marijuana, called “mota” by many is, for better or for worse, a part of the culture. Like the rest of the nation, there is a flow of cocaine here, and unfortunately, like the rest of the states, that evil methamphetamine is prevalent here.

But, don’t get the wrong impression. This is universal of the U.S., and much of the world today.

The people of New Mexico, Love to party, and in that beautiful and proud Hispanic culture you find a people who look for cause to celebrate. New Mexicans celebrate two Independence Days. The Fourth of July and Cinco de Mayo. Fireworks, beer, Tequiza, Corona, Tequila, and the occasional “mota” to remind the people what life, America, and freedom are all about.

Many pioneers of various kinds of lived in this state. If you want learn about Billy the Kid this is the state to travel. If you want to learn about the history of science fiction, one of its greatest pioneers, Dr. Jack Williamson, a man who several decades ago coined the terms “genetic engineering” and “terraforming” amongst others calls this state home.

In the eastern part of the state resides a museum called the Black Water Draw, where one can gaze upon the remains of the Clovis Man, some of the oldest human remains ever found.

The countryside of New Mexico can take your breath away. Vast desert covers the southern and central parts of the state, including the ever beautiful white sands. But, travel north into Taos, or Chamas country and you will see beautiful snow-capped mountains.

New Mexico is more than a state on the map. It is a culture all its own where traditional Caucasian culture exists with an even older Hispanic culture, and nestled amongst them here and there, a small population of once great peoples, that we today call Native Americans. Here, in New Mexico the old live with the young, the conservatives and the liberals, perhaps begrudgingly, call the same places home. For some people here, the war, whichever one it might be, is still going on, and for others the 1960’s never died.

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment. You will never find another place like it on Earth.