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    Adventures in H-Town

    Signs of city life: Fearlessly navigating freeways and making money from graffiti

    Cathy Parsons
    Mar 17, 2013 | 4:41 pm

    Editor's Note: About two years ago, Cathy Parsons moved from Music City (Nashville) to the Bayou City (Houston). In a periodic column, she writes about her new life here.

    A few weeks ago, someone who once heard me say that since I moved to Houston it seemed like I was on a permanent vacation asked me how things were going. You know, since I have lived here for more than two years, do I still see the city with rose-colored glasses?

    I am delighted to say that my love for the city is stronger than ever. In fact, I consider myself a student of the city. So one day, I hope to have a M.H.—Masters of Houston. The best possible advanced degree, to my way of thinking.

    I still get freaked out when I drive on the higher elevated freeways and have yet to learn all of the names of the major roads, but I rarely get lost anymore.

    Since my arrival, I constantly find new things to rave about to my fabulous and loving boyfriend RT (who is now my husband), my family and friends back in Tennessee, and anyone else who will listen.

    As my job has me driving around the city basically most of the week, it is actually fairly astonishing that I have refrained from having any type of accident at all. I still get freaked out when I drive on the higher elevated freeways and have yet to learn all of the names of the major roads, but I rarely get lost anymore.

    I never tire of taking in new sights as my Houston education continues. The growth is simply amazing—with impressive real estate properties breaking ground daily, new shops, high-end movie theaters and a serious restaurant scene that is getting major national press. (And a big shout out to the person who recommended Coppa. It is fantastic!) I love it all. If there has ever been a better time to live in Houston, I can’t imagine it.

    A sight for sore eyes

    There is, however, one sight that both intrigues and concerns me. It is the particular graffiti target along the bottom of the underpass where Shepherd and Memorial intersect. You know, that pretzel-ly merger that proves very challenging to newcomers.

    I dislike graffiti of all types on public property and always have and consider it completely off base, and of course completely illegal. But there has been something about these images at this super-busy underpass that has captured my attention.

    I dislike graffiti of all types on public property but there has been something about these images at this super-busy underpass that has captured my attention.

    It isn’t the usual swirly names and symbols, but an altogether different visual. I am not sure why, but the same image stayed up for a couple of months and then a new one appeared virtually overnight to take its place.

    The first one I noticed was of a pink pig drifting downwards via a purple parachute. There were a couple of words that went along with this, I think, but I can’t remember them now. This was replaced by two black and white mirror images of a man with the words "Fight me" underneath. Fight Club invitation?

    This image will remain a complete mystery, no doubt. The latest display has since been covered up and for all I know the person responsible was cited and/or paying a hefty fine for this little project. But my thoughts are if you have some type of artistic bent and can put something out there that makes people (well, me at least) pay attention, then why not turn it into a legal and lucrative venture?

    Heck, I would fork over some cash for a cool T-shirt with the parachute pig on it. What about putting this talent to benefit others? Is anyone else following the oh-so-sad stories posted on Facebook by Barrio Dogs and other organizations of the many, many homeless dogs that wander the city streets?

    Maybe the person responsible for the graffiti could create art for the purposes of selling it, and then use part of the proceeds to help out a worthy cause, like Barrio Dogs or Trees for Houston or Habitat for Humanity or any number of organizations that are trying to make the city even better. The list is long and the needs are great. It could happen, right? And who knows? This altruistic turn of events might even result in riches and fame along the way.

    What do you say, readers: Is graffiti an inevitable part of big city living? And how can we use it positive ways?

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    flag-waving news

    Texas drops on new list of most patriotic states in U.S.

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 19, 2025 | 3:30 pm
    American flag, Texas flag, patriotism
    Photo by Ray Shrewsberry on Unsplash
    Texas ranked a dismal No. 45 this year after previously ranking as the 36th most patriotic state in 2024.

    This may come as a surprise for many Texans, but the Lone Star State is far from being the most patriotic place in America, according to a new report.

    WalletHub's latest study ranking the "Most Patriotic States in America" for 2025 placed Texas near the bottom of the list as No. 45, marking a significant nine-place drop from its rank as the 36th most patriotic state in 2024.

    According to the findings, the three most patriotic states in America are Virginia (No. 1), Montana (No. 2), and Vermont (No. 3). Colorado (No. 4) and Oregon (No. 5) round out the top five most passionate, flag-waving states in 2025.

    Texas flopped toward the bottom mainly due to its civic engagement rank (No. 47), but it did perform fairly well in the military engagement category (No. 13).

    Texas has the third-highest average number of military enlistees, the report found, but it had the second-lowest percentage of adults who voted in the 2024 presidential election.

    WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said patriotism can't be defined by geographic region or by which states fly the most American flags. Rather, true patriotism can be found in states with high voter turnouts, high volunteer rates, and more.

    “The most patriotic states have a lot of residents who serve or have served in the armed forces, high voter turnouts during elections, and a high share of the population volunteering with national or local organizations," Lupo said.

    States like Virginia and Montana ranked at the top of the list due to their high voter turnout rates during the 2024 presidential election, plus high volunteer rates in local or national organizations. Virginia is also home to the third-highest population of active-duty military personnel per 100,000 civilians, and there are 27 military bases in the state.

    The report further acknowledges that many Americans may not be feeling very patriotic this year because of "societal issues" that span from "relentless high inflation" to tragedies like mass shootings.

    "Many people may find it hard to celebrate a country where countless people are struggling and frequent violence persists," the report's author wrote. "However, an expression of love for fellow citizens is patriotic in itself."

    Joining Texas among the least patriotic American states are Florida (No. 46), Alabama (No. 47), Louisiana (No. 48), New York (No. 49), and Arkansas (No. 50).

    The top 10 most patriotic states in America are:

    • No. 1 – Virginia
    • No. 2 – Montana
    • No. 3 – Vermont
    • No. 4 – Colorado
    • No. 5 – Oregon
    • No. 6 – Washington
    • No. 7 – North Dakota
    • No. 8 – Maryland
    • No. 9 – Minnesota
    • No. 10 – New Hampshire
    The report analyzed all 50 states across 13 "indicators of patriotism" based on military and civic engagement, including factors such as the rate of veterans living in each state for every 1,000 civilians; the share of adults who voted in the 2024 presidential election and the 2020 primary elections; the number of AmeriCorps volunteers per capita, and more.
    texaswallethubreportspatriotism
    news/city-life
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