Earth can be a really confusing place.

Most earthlings are basically provincial in nature, thinking within national boundries.

Some of us, however, think of our home as Planet Earth.

Click on the locations below to see details about that area

My name is Michael Miner, and I am an earthling.

Born in Houston, Texas, USA, I was privileged to be a member of a family that traveled extensively and lived in many countries, among many cultures.

Are humans really that different?

No. Not really. Humans are fiercely independent and we love to point out our differences, but we are all really very much the same. Those who claim to be different generally base their claims more on ignorance than actual knowledge.

The truth is that you can find good and bad in all cultures, in all nations, in all groups. Like life in general, most humans see what they chose to see and simply ignore what appears inconvenient to their latest theories and attitudes.

Most humans still haven't discovered that life is what you make of it and people, wherever they live, are what you make of them.

I've been around a little, not as much as some, more than most, I guess. I can suggest a couple of great places to visit. I've lived and worked on every continent except Antarctica.

The most important thing when you visit or live in a foreign country is to try to be a good guest. You are on someone else's turf, after all. As primitive as it might sound territory is still the prime driving force in humans. I know, someday, maybe we'll outgrow it.

Located in South Texas, about 60 miles from the Gulf Coast. This area is known for heat and humidity, but the residents comfort themselves with the most massive concentration of mechanical refrigeration in the world . . . and the knowledge that they don't have to shovel show in the winter.

(Dots from left to right)

1. Sugar land is a suburb to the southwest of Houston, Texas, a great town.
2. Houston, the energy capital of the world, is the capital of much more than energy.
3. Galveston Bay, the largest brackish water bay in the world and home to the second largest private yacht fleet in the world. Also the center of some great sailboat races. 

Statistics vary, but I believe this is the fastest growing area in the world. It is also one of the wealthiest areas in the world.

When I was a kid in Sugar Land in the 1960's, it was a small South Texas town of 1,100 people. Nothing but open fields and endless gossip. Today, it is completely different and features "world-class everything", whatever that means.

When I was 16 years old, my family moved to Germany and I was installed in a German school.

(Dots left to right)

1. Innsbruck, Austria, where my parents moved after I left home.
2. Munich, Germany, childhood home of the famous Marion Miner and today's home to assorted Staudes.
3. Dusseldorf, Germany where I worked for a large german company.
4. Hamburg, Germany where I lived with my family in a small suburb called Hausbruck.

One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Hamburg is also the home of the oldest surviving democratic government in history.

My father ran international oil drilling operations in Benghazi (left) and Cairo, Egypt (right). It was in both these countries where I gained great respect for the Arab culture and its historical basis, the life of the nomadic tribesman.

As unpopular as this respect might be in some circles, consider this: We kill more people every year with handguns in Houston, Texas than are killed annually with F16s in the Middle East. I ask you, who is really civilized?

Another simple question: Who supplies over 2/3 of the imported oil to the United States? Answer: Libya.

There was a time when I could chart the history of my life by the paths of beautiful women. A brief stint in London was one of the more memorable chartings.

Being from Texas, Lilliput wears thin quickly. Although the people are nice, I wonder: How can we speak the same language and yet be so different?

The Hague, Holland (right)

Some brief business in Sydney was all it took to fall in love with the country and its people. I'll be back.

There are two groups of people in the world who think just like Americans: The Germans and the Brazilians. Don't ask me why. I have tremendous respect for both of them.

This is heart of the German Ruhrgebiet, the center of heavy industry, where I worked for a 150 year old company building alcohol stills.

When the sun is shining, Dusseldorf is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is also one of the oldest, more than 850 years old.

Besides some brief business in never-never land, the fishing is incredible, especially since you have to wear two 10 gauge pump shotguns and two .568 caliber revolvers in case some bear decides you look better than the fish. I thought we had mosquitos in Houston until I went to Alaska.

Kuala Lumpur (left) is a big asian city. Kuantan (right) is the closest thing to paradise I've seen. It's also the closest I've come to drowning, since I sunk a jet ski 1 1/2 miles offshore.

The workers in Malaysia may be lazy, but they made me realize that I'm crazy. After bitching at them for sitting down every time I turned around, I suddenly thought: "What am I doing? They're the ones who live in Paradise!"

Honolulu (left) is nice, but I'm not sure I like it since the Japanese bought it. Pearl Harbor will still put a lump in your throat, especially since it was brought to you courtesy of the US government.

The Big Island (right) is worth seeing. The volcanic activity is truly humbling.

Don't go to Jamaica for the scenery - go for the people. They are some of the finest on the planet.