And that does not even include illegals, which while they are not technically U.S. citizens make up a decent part of our economy. In bad times a few years ago my wife worked as a restaurant manager at a shithole which almost exclusively used illegal immigrants. The conditions these people worked and lived under were and are inconceivable for me, who grew up in a European "welfare" state - and quite frankly, I think they are an embarrassment for the U.S.

Despite the physical proximity to the Bud brewery, Rice actually has a nice beer tradition. There is a graduate student pub called Valhalla on campus which serves a pretty decent variety. Also there is a small, great, brewery in Houston called Saint Arnolds, which was founded by former Rice students and makes great-tasting beers, which can be bought in many local restaurants, including abovementioned grad bar. If you happen to drop in past my advisor's bed time, you may just meet the drunk physicist that is me there.