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From: http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/105190/Best-Cities-to-Live,-Work-and-Play

As mentioned before, sometimes I think about the future, and think of Iowa as a reasonable place to retire to. Then, I saw the list above (content posted below) to confirm what I thought already.

One of the interesting things is that Houston is the cheapest place (among the below) to live. I don’t really like Texas (uh, hot), but it is big city (I’m not really small town) and has a Vietnamese population. I mean, if it’s cheaper than Des Moines (ranked 9th on this list), why wouldn’t I live there? Sacramento is also a possibility but that place is expensive. Not like the Bay Area expensive, but still very expensive. For some reason, I’ve just never been a fan of Sacramento, probably just South Bay bias.

A quick look at my hometown of San Jose:

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Population: 1,784,826
Cost of Living Index: 154 (100 is national average)
Median Household Income: 80,638

Also, San Jose/San Francisco are ranked #2 and #3 most expensive locations in the United States.

Houston is 44% less in cost of living versus San Jose. Scary, huh?

——-

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. Fayetteville

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.

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In Berkeley with Lily:

Home in San Jose:

Christmas with Family:

In San Francisco with Family:

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I’m back in San Jose for a couple of weeks, and while Hanoi isn’t warm (55 F), especially when you’re riding a motorbike (instant wind chill), it’s downright cold here (40 F).

I had been planning on a lot of basketball, but now, I’m not sure when I’ll get out there. It’s gonna take everyone wanting to play basketball for me to get out there- shorts and jersey top are definitely not cutting it for this weather.

I came back Thursday night, and haven’t done much so far. Saw I am Legend on Friday, was disappointed. Will probably try to see Juno before I head back as well.

Other notes of the last couple weeks:

• This website was messed up for a week or so. I think someone was hacking the site, and then I tried to resolve security issues, and then the whole thing went ugly for a bit. Ngoc Anh put it back together, and now everything is seemingly ok.
• Flew back on China Airlines (Taiwan leg). China Airlines is pretty awesome now. Or the planes they use are awesome. I have never been a big fan of theirs, but they always had the lowest price to Vietnam, but coming back to the US, we got seats with their own TVs and movie selections. Normally, when I go on these flights, the first thing I do is look in the in-flight magazine to see what’s showing on-board, and then I notice that although the movie selection for all flights is pretty good, my flight is always ridden with crap. This is kind of what happened this time. There were movies like Bourne Ultimatum, Transformers, Ratatouille, Superbad, The Simpsons Movie, and I didn’t have any one. Then I learned that my TV set could choose movies! Food was pretty good too. Now I hope I get the same type of TV when I head back to Vietnam.
• Got to finally check out all the stuff I ordered. Everything came ok, though the Halo shirt I got (for $45!!!!) is probably too small. It fits really tight, so I think my sister will wear it (it’s a Men’s small, so it’s slightly big for her, but it seems like a smaller than normal Men’s small- I normally wear medium)
• Typing this on my new Lenovo T61p laptop, took a few days to set up.
• Saw the Dark Knight trailer, it’s awesome. Simply awesome. I’m going to go sell Batman (original with Jack Nicholson). I think the major difference in the Joker is that from the trailer, Heath Ledger’s Joker sounds crazy. Jack Nicholson did not seem that crazy or psychotic to me, but Heath Ledger has that certain thing that makes him feel insane. “I like that”
• Got Rock Band for PS2. It is fun, though I just want to get to Enter Sandman. Drums are going awhile to learn, my sister is already pretty decent at it.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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…

Similar to the spats among Cuban emigres in Miami, the debate is laced with rhetoric that has historically marked Vietnamese-American politics - accusations that people are either radical anti-communists or passive communist sympathizers.

After taking over Saigon in 1975, the communist leaders of Vietnam renamed it Ho Chi Minh City. Supporters of Little Saigon like the name because it represents the way things were before the takeover. Nguyen and business owners in the area want to attract non-Vietnamese clientele to the area and believe Little Saigon is too narrow in its appeal.

“It is kind of unbelievable,” said Phillip Huynh, a San Jose resident. “When we voted for her, we thought she represented us. I think she is pro-communism.” …

San Jose Mercury News - “Little Saigon” fans call San Jose Councilwoman Nguyen “pro-communist”

—-

When we voted for her, we thought she represented us. I think she is pro-communism- stupidity like this is why I hate thinking.

I like this parody though:

—-

Ho Chi Minh City Fights Over “Little San Jose” Name

A group of nearly 27 American expatriates from San Jose stormed the offices of the People’s Committee Chairman in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday and demanded a renaming of a concentrated strip of American businesses that has become known as “Little San Jose.”

“It conjures up memories of a vindictive regime of lobbyists and a labor council-controlled agenda lead by a mayor that nurtured pay-to-play politics,” said Del Borgsdorff, owner of Togos America and President of the People’s American Business Association which manages the small communist-American strip of businesses.

The controversy started when the Vietnam People’s Council recommended that “Little San Jose” become the adopted official name on all government records, in media and marketing materials and branded on the rear ends of those that own business in the district.

“We would prefer ‘Santa Clara Valley Business District,’” said Susan Shick owner of American Nail Salon. “It doesn’t have the negative association with the Gonzales regime.”

When reached at his palatial grounds outside of the city, the People’s Committee Chairman promised that he would take the concerns of the Americans under advisement. “But this is communist Vietnam. We will do what we please in the end and that could mean revoking visas or death. I do hope things work out because I love those Cinnabons.”

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A 5.6 magnitude earthquake centered near Alumn Rock in San Jose struck at 8:04 tonight.

The quake, with an epicenter five miles northeast of Alum Rock, was felt across the Bay Area.

There were no immediate reports of major damage. Phone service in part of Palo Alto failed. …

San Jose Mercury News - 5.6 earthquake hits near Alum Rock

——

Live Coverage!

[10:05, October 31] sister: AUGH HOLY FAK EARTHQUAKE
[10:08, October 31] me: wow!
[10:10, October 31] me: r u ok
[10:13, October 31] sister: yes i think everything is okay?
[10:13, October 31] sister: linda felt in berkeley
[10:13, October 31] sister: felt like it was going to get really big but then it didnt
[10:13, October 31] me:  how powerful?
[10:13, October 31] sister: 4? i freaked out a little bit which i never do
[10:14, October 31] me:  you don’t have me!
[10:14, October 31] me:  go to Teddy!
[10:14, October 31] sister: HOSUE IS EMPTY IT COULD COLLAPSE ON TOP OF ME
[10:14, October 31] sister: if linda felt in berkeley prob a 4?
[10:14, October 31] me:  depends where it’s from
[10:15, October 31] sister: also yesterday there was thunder and lightning storm which i thought was earthquake because sky ecploded and thunder made house shake
[10:15, October 31] sister: APOCALYPSE
[10:16, October 31] me:  when did they leave for LA?
[10:16, October 31] me:  how long are they gone for?
[10:16, October 31] sister: idk
[10:16, October 31] sister: today?
[10:16, October 31] me:  1 day trip?
[10:16, October 31] sister: if they are staying the night they did not tell me
[10:19, October 31] me:  dad has cell phone?
[10:19, October 31] sister: want me to call?
[10:19, October 31] me:  not yet
[10:19, October 31] me:  gimme 5 minws
[10:25, October 31] me:  actually can you call? and see if they are coming home- ask them if it is ok if I try to order laptop myself
[10:25, October 31] me:  if I can, then Dad doesn’t have to think
[10:28, October 31] me:  [10:28, October 31] Andrew: man we had an earthquake here
[10:28, October 31] Andrew: 5.6 in east san jose
[10:29, October 31] sister: AUGH HOLY CRAP
[10:29, October 31] sister: NO WONDER I FREAKING FREAKED OUT

My sister told me live when it happened. She was at home (South San Jose for us), I was in Hanoi, so I guess I experienced it myself in a sense. The wonders of instant messaging and global connectivity. Parents were maybe in SoCal, perhaps driving home to San Jose after taking a short trip down there.

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[gamevideo 15560 nolink]

Yes! It’s alive! After all those fun sessions of Street Fighter 3 with John Tam, Midland, Kyle, and Mike back at the old work place, learning how to parry, learning how to cry after losing, and probably 10 years after people started waiting for it, now there is a Street Fighter 4. I don’t even know why, seriously. Although, maybe it’s tied to the rumors of another Street Fighter movie (live-action), even though this itself was tied in to that movie (two rumors tied together).

At this point, does anyone care? Yes, I do care. But do millions of people care enough to buy this game? If this is coming to arcades again, who’s going to play it? Arcades have been dying both in the US and Japan over the last decade, so much so that Dave and Busters is the premier arcade in most areas. It’s not like the old days- Andy, William, Wing, and the whole gang would to go Mama Mia’s in Monterey Plaza to play Street Fighter 2 in 1992 on weekdays, Andy stealing money even from family to go play, or later in 1993 or maybe even up to 1994, we’d go to Keystone in Almaden Plaza for those bulk coin purchase deals to “save money.” Yet by 1996, those arcades were all done for, and now in Hanoi, I hope to stop by Vincom on a non-weekend day so I can finally go finish that Sega shooting game with Jimmy.

The home consoles are great, online networks like XBox Live will add fantastic multiplayer, but will 12 year olds care about Street Fighter the way I did when I was 12? Can this be another revolution in games? (I doubt it.)

Anyway, yes, I want to see more. Bring on all the Shoryukens (”All you can!”) and Hadoukens.

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So what’s life like for the man who is baller, emcee, thug, poet, and warlord all wrapped into one?

It’s great! I’m just living in Hanoi, Vietnam, working for an IT company learning about my Vietnamese heritage, women, and maybe most importantly, how to live as myself.

Thanks for coming to the site, so I’ll talk quickly about myself and the site. My name is Michael, I’m Vietnamese-American and originally from the Bay Area. Born in 1980, lived in San Jose for most of my pre-Vietnam life (more on that later), graduated from Cal (go Bears!), still pursuing the dot-com dream 10 years later. I moved from the US in September 2006, first to Malaysia to work a contract gig for 5 months, then back to Hanoi, and that’s where I’m at now, doing some work, hanging out with some great people, and seeing how it will all come out. This blog site’s just supposed to be somewhere where I can reflect and voice opinions about anything I think- so yeah, it’s like any other blog.

Me:

The phrase(?) “baller, emcee….” comes from Kyle. What’s great about this is that Kyle gave me this line and cannot remember doing so himself.

The name of the site, I Spit Hot Fire, comes from Dave Chapelle, and more specifically from the MTV Making the Band skit on his show from Season 1.

I do like the title because I like to think it reflects me (ego!), or at least on this site, I hope to reflect it.

Ok. Enjoy!

Oh, and if you need to contact me:

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