Two quick tidbits related to home. First, this entry on MSN relates the most overrated parts of a bunch of cities and then offers alternatives. I realize that I'm not likely to take any of it seriously as the first mention goes to downtown Anaheim. Is there a downtown Anaheim? And does anyone go there? Even if they've just spent the day at Disneyland? Though I do quite like the Orange Circle, so kudos on that. Additionally, it speaks volumes to the fact that LA is not a tourist town that their "overrated" entry there was car culture. Traffic's overrated? Huh? (If you head all the way to the end of the 6th page you'll find that the opinion closely mirrors my own, which led to a giggle.)

Second, there was an article in the Express this morning detailing how violent crime has gone up in 8 of the nation's 10 largest cities recently. Buried at the end of this blurb was the fact that in the other two crime had actually fallen. I might have done a smug little victory dance on the metro when I saw that Los Angeles was one of those two.