Elvis is buried in Memphis, right? So what's he doing in the German town of Bad Nauheim?

No, he was not sighted by some bleary-eyed office worker on the way home after too many beers. Bad Nauheim is the place where Elvis did his military duty in the late '50s. The people of this otherwise nondescript town (well, at least the Elvis fans among them) are not so quick to forget their most famous boarder.

A tour around town passes an arch where the photo for one of The King's album covers was taken. There is also the house where he lived, and, for die-hards, the room that he sometimes rented at a local hotel. There is even a story about a beer hall where Elvis allegedly started a brawl.

The people of Bad Nauheim have made Elvis a kind of folk hero, and they are painfully aware that his army days in Germany are viewed as insignificant by fans from other parts of the world. According to local Elvis lore, the Bad Nauheim years were among the happiest in Presley's life.

Bad Nauheim will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Presley's arrival in their town later this year.

If you are looking for an all night party, head for the Twin Cities next weekend.

Seriously. It's the RNC, but even if you are affiliated with another political party, be it of the mainstream or fringe variety, it might be worth the trip.

In a bid to bring more convention dollars into the area, St. Paul's city council decided to allow bars to stay open until 4 a.m. That's two hours past the usual last call. The catch: the bars would have to pay a hefty fee to the city.

But, because there haven't been many owners willing to pay, Saint Paul is consider lowering or even waving the fee.

Yes, you're right. That means there will be plenty of places where you can play drinking games with Wolf Blitzer and hit on Mrs. McCain until 4 in the morning.

But the scene in MSP isn't really about politics. It's about more important things like patios, nice weather and beer.

The Twin Cities are full of beer lovers and therefore, a good brew is never far away. Sure, the hard bitten political journalists might stay with the usual low-ball of scotch, but there are plenty of spots with local microbrews and Belgian beers with easily mispronounced names on tap.

And, because it's early fall, the weather is neither hot and mosquito-infested nor freezing. Drinking on the patio is a favored local pastime at places like The Happy Gnome (pictured). Hopefully, convention-goers won't be taking over places like this. Maybe, just maybe, they'll simply be joining in the fun.

Hugs all around. If you're near someone give him or her a hug. If you're by yourself, just wrap your arms around yourself and squeeze. MMMMmmmm.

By the end of the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing, when the credits rolled in the U.S.'s broadcast version, I was once more feeling warm and fuzzy, just like I did at the end of the opening of the games. Again, I'm a real Pollyanna sometimes.

The shots of athletes hugging each other, even if they were not on the same team, (like this photo posted on AOL) or with their hands thrown upwards in triumph--or in tears--either from joy or abject disappointment, revved up emotions--at least mine. As one of the commentators said during the closing, the games do give a sense that there is hope. Yes, we can all get along. The hugs seem to prove it.

Hugs, if you noticed, were given out by EVERYBODY--it didn't matter the nationality of the hugger or hugee, whether it was for a feeling of triumph or in comfort. If not a hug, at least a pat on the back or a rub on the shoulders was offered and accepted.

While I watched the closing, I also thought about how the performance arts of a country can reflect the cultural values of the people who live there and influence the emphasis on how the art is used.

The closing ceremonies of Beijing '08 were not quite as spectacular as the opening ceremonies.

Not quite, but almost. There were still plenty of people wearing LED lights, drummers and acrobats climbing tall structures.

London got a chance to do their "we're hosting the next Olympics" skit. It sucked in comparison to the other performances of the evening. There was some guy who looked like an gray-haired Jimmy Page. (It was obvious that the Stones said no to the gig). And Beckham kicked a ball off the top of a bus that had magically converted into some sort of green lump.

While they shake off their Olympic withdrawals, some people are passing the time by guessing what the opening ceremonies are going to look like in '12. Here are some of the ideas:

1. They will hire the cast and crew of the Beijing opening ceremonies and perform the exact same show.

2. They will tap a different film director, like Ridley Scott or Madonna's husband, and offer an unlimited budget to create a series of whimsical dance numbers featuring soccer hooligans and those guards with the furry hats.

3. Beckham will be, under order of the queen, part of the ceremony. Fine, as long as he doesn't have to say anything in that high-pitched cockney voice or take his shirt off.

Whatever they come up with, it's going to be great.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until 2011 to get their hands on some of the 7.7 million tickets up for sale.

My 200-mile list is a collection of musicians for whose concerts I am willing to travel up to 200 miles (and often farther, really). Traveling for music is a great way to discover small towns, eclectic venues, and meet cool people who share your interests.

I'm not talking about stadium headliners -- nothing against these concerts or musicians, but with many of these shows, you might as well be watching on television at home. You're so much more present when you're part of a smaller group, which is why I especially love the folk scene, hosted by all the best coffee houses in America. All members of my 200-mile list are folk musicians. Of course, "folk" covers a lot of ground.

Near the top of my list is the Steep Canyon Rangers, a young bluegrass band from North Carolina. Winners of the 2006 International Bluegrass Music Awards' Emerging Artist of the Year title, the Rangers are up for Album of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year at this year's IBMA's. Their sound is a solid mix of instrumentals, traditional and original bluegrass, and gospel, with lots of humor and fun thrown in.

The roads have been repaved, the bars stocked and the popcorn swept out of the Excel Energy Center's aisles. It's only a few days until the Republicans storm the beachhead and impose their flag waving and slogan chanting on the good people of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

It might seem odd that a state that usually votes Democrat when it comes to president is playing host to John McCain. Sure, Minnesota has a Republican governor, but he's more of a centrist than McCain, and his opponent in the last election had so much baggage that he laid down and gave up halfway through the race.

No, the RNC is not really about politics for the Twin Cities. It's about a couple of underrated, mid-sized cities trying to get some respect. It's about showing off the nightlife and restaurants (hey Andrew Zimmern chose St. Paul over New York, so there must be something good about the eating scene). It's about showing the nation that Chicago isn't the only game in the Midwest.

To be clear, the convention will be in Saint Paul, but, Minneapolis (pictured above) is a mere 10 minute drive down Highway 94. Logistically, at least, they can be considered different parts of one big city.

I'll be in the Twin Cities next week, letting you in on some of the cities' highlights and, perhaps, bringing you a report on the crazy nightlife habits of young Republicans. Stay tuned.

When Meredith Vieria from the Today Show was given a tour of the Olympic Village, specifically the housing of the Americans, trap shooter bronze medalist Corey Cogdell showed Vieria a painting in her room that was created by a child in China.

A framed picture of a child's artwork was given to each Olympic athlete as a room decoration. It's theirs to keep whether they medal or not.

Vieira was quite moved by the gesture of a child-produced gift. I thought about the excitement that the children must have felt when they were making their paintings knowing their creations would be going to athletes from around the world and how they were contributing to their country's mega, unforgetable, international event.

It can make a heart feel warm and fuzzy for sure.

Seeing the painting reminded me of the items to buy when traveling that offer more meaning than a production piece souvenir. Any work made by a child has been favorably received whenever I have given them as gifts.

I once bought three drawings by children that were sold in a fundraiser art show for a refugee center that houses families in India who were displaced by strife. I have forgotten the specifics of who received the funding, but I I can see the art clearly. I was touched by its hope and sweetness. The show was at the India International Center in New Delhi, a place that hosts high quality events, mostly centered on the arts. This is where I saw the writer Pico Iyer at a symposium of Indian authors who write in English.

Granted, framed paintings are cumbersome. Another option is handmade greeting cards that can be framed once you get home. Often these cards are used to make money for organizations that are searching for dollars.

Keep your eyes open. Thailand, Vietnam and India are wonderful places to look for such items. I still have cards I bought to give away. Even if the cards aren't made by kids, or go to charity. handmade cards are helping to support someone.

Though it has been officially part of China for 11 years now, Hong Kong's athletes marched into the Games under their own flag. Beijing's goodwill gesture of holding the equestrian events in Hong Kong was welcomed, but Olympic fever has seemed slightly muted in the former British colony.

Yes, Hong Kongers aren't as excited about the Olympics and the success of team China as mainlanders are, but that doesn't mean they are not following the Games closely. And, with no athletes expected to earn worldwide attention, Hong Kong has adopted some PRC stars as their own. Billboards featuring (now injured) Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang and hoops star Yao Ming are quite visible. Large screen TVs are broadcasting events in public spaces and crowds are stopping to watch.

But what does Hong Kong really think of Beijing's coming out party? The mainland is already swallowing up Hong Kong's once great film industry, and Mandarin is being heard in Kowloon and Central more and more every day. And now Beijing has grabbed the spotlight and captured the imagination of the world.

But Hong Kong has seemed to embrace the Games nonetheless.

They can start thinking about their future with Beijing after the Olympics have closed.

Perhaps watching the Olympics has inspired you to congratulate the athletes in your life--or someone else with a spiffy accomplishment. Here's an idea that has an Olympics and Chinese-flavored twist.

You could give the person a bouquet of flowers with Chinese symbolism. Jim Wells wrote a post on Flora2000's blog that outlines just what you need.

• You've probably noticed that the bouquets handed out during the medal ceremonies are red. Red is the color of good luck. Pink and yellow represent happiness.
• The presenters also offer the bouquets with both hands which is the Chinese tradition.
• If there is a congratulation note, it's never written in red ink.
• Also, eight is a lucky number, so eight flowers would be terrific.
• Don't give only four though, because four is unlucky.
• Although yellow is a color for happiness, don't give a yellow chrysanthemum--or a white one. Those are only used for funerals.

Jim's recommendation for a perfect bouquet is one made of white and pink Oriental lilies and red roses. To be ultra classy, he says to give flowers from Europe. They are quite popular in China these days.

(At the time Jim wrote his post, Michael Phelps only had 5 gold medals. Weren't those races something to watch?)

So far this Olympics, Indian athletes have garnered a grand total of one medal-- a gold in the 10-meter men's air rifle event (whatever that is). This matches the total number of medals India earned during the entire 2004 Games-- one silver in men's double trap shooting.

For a warm-weather country of 1.1 billion, you'd think India might fare better than this. So where are all India's medals? Here are a couple possible explanations:

1. Cricket is not an Olympic sport. In many ways, cricket is to India what baseball is to the United States. It is the country's most popular sport, and India's national team is consistently one of the best in the world. But cricket games can last for days, and this does not lend itself to Olympic competition. There may be hope, though: Some are suggesting that a shorter version of cricket called Twenty20 should be added to the 2020 Olympics.

2. Many Indians eat strictly vegetarian diets. In many ways, vegetarianism is just as healthy-- if not more so-- than a diet that includes meat. But vegetarian diets can also be lower in protein, which is important in muscle development. About a third of India's population are vegetarians.

3. Much of India is still poor. Though India's economy is developing rapidly, much of its population remains poor. In general, people are only free to pursue athletics once they've achieved a certain standard of living. But this does not explain why countries like China, Romania, and North Korea are still able to do well in the medal count.