1) Atlanta, Georgia is like New York City. Hardly anyone who lives there is actually from there and most everyone is politically liberal.

2) Birmingham, Alabama's south side is where it's at and in particular, the Garage Cafe* is a great bar.

3) Sports, especially football is huge down there.

4) Jackson, Mississippi is strange and strangely sweet...especially the Queen of Hearts Blues Bar that's been there since Shellie B. started it up in the 60's.

5) Men will be friendly to two women much more than women will.

6) It's easier to say not so nice things when said in a sweet, sing songy Southern voice and preceded by "______ (Insert name of person you're about to criticize), bless her heart... ______ (insert insult)." I actually quite like it!

7) When offered car bombs (shot of whiskey dropped in a half pint of Guinness) in a bar by a local you want to interview and get in good with, you should graciously accept...especially the third one.

8) Wisdom for the ladies from Earl on his porch in Jackson: "Make sure the man you're layin' with, cares somethin' about you."

9) It would be the right thing for Mississippi to fix their state flag by replacing the upper left confederate image with something else.

10) Southerners do talk slowly.

11) Most Southern women do not talk about sex as openly as we New Yorkers do and love to do.

12) Although listed on menus under Vegetable, Mac & Cheese is still not a vegetable.

* Free hot dogs on game nights.